That was only because he knew he had completely ****ed up for Knowles' try. Now you can try and say that evens it up, but it doesn't. The mental impact of that first refused try sets the stage for the game, puts us on the back foot and gives Wire a big lift. Downplay it all you want but EVERY poor decision has an impact on a game and the combination of them in a short space of time deflated us and boosted Wire massively. By the time we got to the Lineham refused try the damage was done and they were in a mental position that they could shrug it off far more easily.
Tom Lineham bouncing one down in the corner & Peyroux clearly grounding the ball a few years back at Warrington
If we didn’t make an official enquiry asking for an explanation then the whole thing would be blissfully ignored by the RFL and Hicks would go on officiating Super League games without ever being held to account for making a monumental blunder in a major final.
I don't mind us asking some questions but don't think it should be public, just puts refs under more pressure and invites others to have a go also
He made a bad error, he will feel very bad about it, embarrassed and will no doubt question himself, what explanation do we expect? I don't recal the players asking the question or celebrating it, nobody there knew it was even a chance, it was all a bit odd.
im sure it would have made a difference but no guarantee of success for us and the remaining 77 minutes saw warrington do a job on us
I'm sure they address performance regularly, just because they don't make public their private conversations just like any other job we shouldn't assume it doesn't happen
As regards dropping refs for errors we need s bigger pool, but tbh they will always make errors so we would be swapping each week
I'm sure they address performance regularly, just because they don't make public their private conversations just like any other job we shouldn't assume it doesn't happen
As regards dropping refs for errors we need s bigger pool, but tbh they will always make errors so we would be swapping each week
I totally get why we'd ask for clarification on how that game was refereed. Even for Hicks as an individual that performance was completely different to how he's refereed previously. I get that he was trying to have an open game so was reluctant to give penalties, but it was a poor showing from him generally. The lack of a referral for the try was just wrong, as was at least the method of the restart for Percival's.
What I don't get is why this is being made public? Surely we could have raised our concerns, spoke to the RFL and Hicks and done all this behind closed doors?
How do you measure a refs performance? The losing teams view of the ref? The amount of emotional outbursts? Or a rationale considered objective review by peers?
How long does he have to prove himself for?
Do the players who made errors have to sit out all finals until they have proved themselves or are theirs just put down to human error in s big game?
My husband was a referee for 25 years with St Helens Ref Society. I fully understand what they go through. There's nothing worse than watching a game when you know the referee and have to listen to the comments. He did it for the love of the game and because he enjoyed it, I can't say I did. BUT when you do it literally for a living, you have to do a better job than Hicks did. I understand when it's a big televised game you have to let it flow and not penalise minor infringements, but he didn't even bother questioning the Knowles try. Ive seen clear non tries sent to the VR simply to see how the game should be restarted. That SHOULD have gone to the VR. The VR also has to take some responsibility, BMM clearly stripped the ball for the next try we weren't awarded. So many decisions against in a short space of time have an impact on a team. I know he made wrong decisions against Warrington as well, but that was after they already had the wind in their sails so they could absorb it and keep going. I'm well aware you champion all referees and the RFL but you can't go too far in the wrong direction or you are equally guilty of enabling mistakes. Youve got to try and be neutral and see it from both sides.
I think I have been balanced, I have accepted numerous times it was a major error, but what do we want? TBH I just feel many fans just want to vent anger and see someone suffer, yes he made a big error, I don't believe the ref lost us the game, we were not as good as wire on the day sadly
You've accepted that the Knowles try was an error becaus e there literally is no other choice but you blindly sweep under the carpet all other errors in all games and in all decisions taken by the RFL. I'm not just referring to this game but a broad sweep of all your posts. I know there are some posters who see any decision against Saints as wrong, but they are no less biased than you who sees any post complaining about the RFL or referees as a direct attack. You are no better than them. You need to see it from both sides and balance your arguments accordingly.
I disagree, I give my opinion on how I see it, just because I see things this way or that way does not mean it is biased or unbalanced.
Nothing is swept under the carpet and I continually ask for suggestions to improve the situation, very rare I ever get any other than finger pointing and blame. So whilst I respect your opinion I strongly refute I am biased and again ask for suggestions to improve or increase the percentage of correct decisions
It isnt a good argument to dismiss my comments based on an assumption of bias, it's simply a typical attempt to dismiss the comments without addressing.
Your no better than them suggest you don't respect anyones opinion, I stand by all my comments
Using the technology that’s intended to make their job easier would be a start.
Additionally, there is no weight in your argument regarding players and fans not seeing it; or rather just seeing that there was at least a possibility of a try. The bulk of our fans were 150m minimum away, not 2, and the players have a job to do in terms of getting back for the restart. Knowles got up with some bemusement on his face but the ref was already 10m up the field and facing the other way so he had no choice but to get back into position and no opportunity to question the decision. Hicks didn’t make any tackles for Knowles so why should he or anyone else have to help him with his job? If you follow the respect line completely you would say he shouldn’t question him anyway, but nobody had the chance as he was confident in his blink of an eye decision and off he sprinted
Last edited by Sean Day; 27th August 2019 at 02:03.