People.
Get this referee thing in perspective.
Referees are on the pitch to do a job. A job they have trained for for years. A job they have excelled at to be promoted through the ranks to get to the top in their field.
A job they get scrutinised on by their advisers/assessors every game in order to maintain their skills. A referee will discuss how many penalties have been given to either side, what for and in what position on the field. Bias is just not an option.
Do you think that assessment is made as to whether the performance of the referee has affected the outcome of the game. There is, and if the answer is yes then its a very detailed look at why.
Unless you have been on the field, or on the sideline, you have very little idea on how incredibly quick SL is. The ref has to be very fit to keep up. The concentration levels are staggering where switching off even for a second is not an option. It is incredibly difficult
Then you have to be able to manage the 26 players on the pitch, the coaches, the fans (when in the ground). All this is physically and mentally very challenging.
The ref is also in a team of between 3 and 5 top officials who are they to look at the play from the different angles. And even with that many officials it very very hard to get all the calls correct. You try seeing what's going on the the PTB 12m away at an angle if you're the ref or 25m if you're the TJ. Add to that you may have been running a distance at pace or a shorter distance backwards.
We are all very "one-eyed' when it come to what's been given for and against our team. There was a forward pass in the build-up to Lomax's try V Catalan any mention on here. None. The other way would have seen an avalanche of comments.
The game needs officials at all levels and the more competition there is for games the better that is. I see there has been a scheme announced to get 'veterans' to take up officiating. I trust that means recently retired players. Join them it will give you a totally different outlook on the game.
We are better than this. This being whinging about the ref before even a whistle has been blown.
Rant over.