: Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:49 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

Not if they give it to the "best" ref on form he won't!

When has that ever formed part of Cummings criteria in appointing referees in finals?

Besides which it ought to be a straight choice between the semi final referees and I understood you to be upset with Silverwood's handling of yesterday's game.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 12:52 pm  

tvoc wrote:

When has that ever formed part of Cummings criteria in appointing referees in finals?

Besides which it ought to be a straight choice between the semi final referees and I understood you to be upset with Silverwood's handling of yesterday's game.

Not upset at all i just think there were offences that should of been picked up on when they were at the other end.
I should of added the touch judges aswell TBF.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:01 pm  

The Magic Rat wrote:

Some good points regarding the use of the VR to decide on scrums and drop outs. This is something that is creeping into the game more and more. Have i missed a change in the rules allowing the referee to consult on these type of incidents? I only thought they were allowed to be consulted for try scoring opportunties and 40-20's.

If the knock on decision was the one I think it was, a saints player had actually grounded the ball despite fairly obviously having gone into touch. Silverwood referred it to the VR, ostensibly to check whether the score should be allowed. The VR ruled out the try but confirmed that the game should be restarted with a scrum following an earlier knock on. I'm pretty sure that Silverwood knew there was no try and effectively used the VR to adjudicate on the knock on. Had there been no grounding of the ball, Silverwood wouldn't have been able to use the VR; as it was, he took advantage of a fairly unusual set of circumstances to come to the right decision.

Having said all that, I'd be 100% happy to see the VR scrapped.

: Mon Aug 10, 2009 1:13 pm  

rhinoms wrote:

Not upset at all i just think there were offences that should of been picked up on when they were at the other end.
I should of added the touch judges aswell TBF.

Ganson's going to get it either way.

Silverwood is generally the better referee but his use of the VR yesterday was a little excessive and a direction I hope the RFL don't go down.

Given the same circumstances Ganson uses the VR just as much but he's not as obvious about it. His chats with TJ's while he get's the ruling in his earpiece are hilarious. I only wish there was an option to listen to the ref's mike instead of the commentary.