There have been some good points raised in this thread, but as usual I feel the need to express my opinion. The biggest bone of contention is the use of the video referee. From next season every game will have a video ref, so it is imperative that as a sport we get this right. Rugby Union is currently in focus with the World Cup being held in France, and to be honest besides the shared ancestry the two games are radically different, in laws and viewing pleasure. There is however, something that they seem to have embraced, which is the use of Video Referee.
"It is at present a requirement that the referee presents an on-field decision to the TMO which the TMO is allowed to disagree with if there is "compelling evidence' to do so. In this case the TMO advises that against awarding a try."
Despite there being little difference in the phrasing between the two codes, it is well understood that the Video Ref has full scope to investigate. Rugby365.com
In Rugby League, the on-field ref has to make a decision and then there is a search for comprehensive proof to over-rule or accept the original decision. In this case there was no proof for the absence of an event. This is like saying Religion is stupid because there is no definitive evidence God exists.
The task of refereeing is difficult enough, and is also highly subjective, so why not spend the extra time to get the result correct. At the end of the season, the impact of this one decision affects 5 teams. Every expert seems to agree that the try should have stood. Even John Bateman (former Wigan player) believed the Leigh try should have stood.
Regarding the non-interview with Adrian Lam, there appears to be have been a mix-up with timings and so there should be a retraction of some of the “Classy” “Childish” comments levelled at Derek Beaumont. When you only hear one side of the story, the narrative is skewed heavily.
The last point “This is a rugby forum not English grammar.”. An interesting sentence which even as a signed up member of the “pendants society” I will overlook. A forum is “A situation or meeting in which people can talk about a problem or matter especially of public interest”. To do so it is important that people are able to express themselves in a manner that other people will at least understand. Communication is a two-way process and for the majority of us that means using correct English and not text speak. I have previously refused to get drawn into correcting other people’s posts for bad grammar, spelling mistakes, wrong-tense and the use of “no” instead of “know” as one example. We all make the occasional typo, miss out a word in a sentence, I have no qualms about the use of split-infinitives having been brought up on Star Trek, but the issue of double negatives changes the meaning of a sentence dramatically.
We have a requirement if using the written form of English to make it as accurate as possible. I would like to share a recent posting on the Wakefield Forum.
“Hard to see anything other than a comfortable win for Leigh for me , I feel the fight had drained from our team a while ago (Cas game )as for me that was “Custard’s last stand“, and we failed miserably and ended up the whipping boys for our neighbours. I’m just going to watch these last two games without that knot in my stomach and a dry throat hoping amongst hope that we would stay in the top flight ,yet watching a car crash on the field unfold before our eyes”
Kettykat – Wakefield Forum
I can only assume that General Custer is rolling in his grave.
