: Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:10 pm  

Sure, in the heat of the moment you always tend to blame the ref. If you were listening the French commentators on Orange TV, they were a bit "WTF!!" after 4 tries refused for the Catalans and one accepted for Newton where it is not clear that he grounded the ball. If you understand French you can hear them on SLTV highlights "We will need the referee to explain to us how he makes his decisions"

Personally, and after cooling down, I prefer to think that the refs are not biased. Anyway what would be their interest in being biased? And my feeling is that English fans are very happy to have the Dragons in the competition.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:34 pm  

I was at the game and then watched it again in the bar de source after.
There was a try awarded to Catalans in the first half after they knocked on. I think the ref must have found out about this at half time and made sure he sent any 50-50's to the video ref in the second half.

One try was grounded on Morrison's knee. It was a great effort from the Bulls to prevent the try. Local fans still complained it was an unfair decision.

One of the denied tries should I think have been awarded. The others - including the Bulls denied try were correct decisions. A referee in the bar with us (nobody involved in our game) didn't have much problem with the referee decisions made.

The local crowd give the ref a lot of pressure. Water was thrown on the ref as he left the field at half time. Other refs have had things thrown at them at the ground too.

The local fans made the place sound like the JJB with constant cries of "FORWARD!!!" in passable Lancashire. They complained about our offsides too and we were offside some of the time. So were they. The ref pulled both sides for it a couple of times but it didn't really stop either team.

The Catalans crowd booed a lot of Bulls tackles because they were very hard tackles rather than high ones. Watching them in slomo on the screen after confirmed this.
Some fans obviously expected us to roll over and die and I'm glad we disapointed them!

Still, at least there were no fireworks thrown at fans this year. Match security seems much improved.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:40 pm  

lpage wrote:

It is funny that you say that because I read on the Dragons' forum that the ref has been seen socialising and smiling with the Bulls team after the match (which naturally raises the suspicion of the Catalans' supporters).

This happens every game. I've seen refs and other RFL people socialising with players, club officials and fans. I'm quite glad about this. I've felt more positive about referees after meeting one and there should be more of this kind of thing.
There have been exceptions of course. Some (mostly past) refs I wouldn't socialise with if they were the last people on earth. Ian Smith isn't one of the really bad ones.

: Mon Mar 23, 2009 6:44 pm  

AndreaB wrote:

Some fans obviously expected us to roll over and die and I'm glad we disapointed them!.

Surely not, but you can understand that 4 tries refused are above the threshold of any naturally partial supporter in a stadium. It is just human. And I am sure you would not oppose the fact that Perpignan is a very welcoming city, worth the trip

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 3:59 pm  

AndreaB wrote:

The local crowd give the ref a lot of pressure. Water was thrown on the ref as he left the field at half time. Other refs have had things thrown at them at the ground too.

That's outrageous.

From the French fans I have talked to, they do stuggle with the VR and feeling of bias. This could be because the fans are new to SL and the higher standards of reffing. Give them a couple years to adapt.

You also need the telecasters to adapt to the new standards. Remember that Catalan fans will never see a neutral match on tv, they will only see Catalans playing the opposition, so will never get the chance to see how it works from an unbiased pov, and the commentators will never have the chance to comment in a neutral pov.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:28 pm  

lpage wrote:

...
Maybe if you ask the supporters of any team in the SL no one will say that the ref is biased in their favor and 80% will say that on average the ref is biased against them

100% will say it during or after the game, but the next day most will reluctantly agree that the ref just calls it as he sees it. And it is true that the Bradford club has a thousand more reasons to complain about video referees than any other club.

What is great is that there are so many thousands of Catalans fans who actually care, about their team, what happens to it, and this great game of ours. Long may it continue.

: Tue Mar 24, 2009 9:26 pm  

belgianxiii wrote:

Remember that Catalan fans will never see a neutral match on tv, they will only see Catalans playing the opposition, so will never get the chance to see how it works from an unbiased pov, and the commentators will never have the chance to comment in a neutral pov.

Actually it is not the case anymore. Orante TV broadcasts other matches too, like the last St Helens-Leeds

I think that when the Dragons will not be trailing in the fair play table supporters will be less worried about refereeing bias.

: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:52 pm  

lpage wrote:

Actually it is not the case anymore. Orante TV broadcasts other matches too, like the last St Helens-Leeds

Excellent news. I knew that this was not the case last year with Sport+ and I assumed (which is normally where things go wrong). Hopefully they will get a number of the "neutral" matches and that will help educate them.