: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:12 am  

Definitely in Aussie by the way, his French is non existent at the moment.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:42 am  

Your friend needs to report this to the RLF.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 8:42 am  

Haven't seen any footage of the haven game, so maybe I shouldn't comment, but Rob Hicks is a good and fair referee - and one who was the subject of complaints by the Haven fans after their game at Leigh the other week. It's a reasonable length journey from Oldham up to West Cumbria and I don't think he's refereed there previously this year? We have the same six or seven referees every week in the Championship - it's inevitable that the referees get to know the players, coaches & ground staff well.

TO definitely need to work on discipline. I'd be interested to see the breakdown of what the penalties were awarded for - seems to me there was an awful lot of unneccessary niggle in the tackle in previous games (and more of the penalties conceded by the home and away brigade than the Frenchmen). And you'd have to be pretty disappointed if one of them picks up a ban for the alleged spitting incident that was put on report during the Widnes game.

Another near miss - and disappointing to lose out on the bonus point as well. A week off and then a trip to Batley on Easter Monday. Batley will have played Halifax on Good Friday, which may work to Toulouse's advantage. The slope at Mount Pleasant always makes it a game of two halves and Batley have a strong pack this season - Toulouse may have the edge in terms of speed, though.

: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:14 am  

Thanks Jon M. I think they have to undrstand the vagaries of the English game, although they try very hard. Many of the tackles from where I was seem to have been for head high, although I couldn't see anything high or malicious in a couple of them. And it's something that they work on in training. Also the lads seemed to be a bit tired towards the end, so probably need to up the fitness levels just a bit.
having been an ex ref, I would not criticise, as I had good games and shocking games, even I accepted that. Just thought it was strange at what the groundsman said. Mind you, Mark Aston, the Eagles coach, said that the ref for their game at the weekend penalised them out of the game. I was at the Wakefield game the week before, against the Dragons, and it was the same guy. Even the Widlcats supporters complained about him and they won!