Gotcha wrote:
If ever we needed any highlighting of why our game as so far regressed we only have to watch this CC final. Absolutely disgraceful officiating, making up ridiculous rules as they go along. All three try decisions all completely wrong. You have ruined the game.
The refereeing was mixed. At least Hicks let the game flow which made for a much better game.
However virtually every big decision he made he got wrong.
The decision not to look at the VR in the first few mins was criminal and indicative of his own ego.
Both on-field and VR were wrong in my view to disallow Warrington’s try. Not sure why it matters whether he slightly touched the man playing the ball.
Saints try shouldn’t have stood either. Clear obstruction on Ratchford from Thompson (I think). Hicks had only recently penalised Warrington for crossing too. Though of course he was willfully blind to Saints obstruction in the game v us a few weeks back.
I have no idea how Hicks even got the game in the first place. He’s been poor all year. Clearly the RFL wanted someone with a media-friendly story to ref the game rather than the best referee.