maybe he should have been dropped, but he wasnt and he improved his issues with video ref use. still sucked at calling hohaias involvements at the potb, but his primary problem from last week was resolved.

Why are the video refs now making decisions outside of try or no try calls?



Guys like Alibert and Thaler are 2 ref's that are really struggling with this as they seem to want the video ref to talk them through games. Alibert looks on a different planet most of the time and Thaler, whilst letting the games flow, is starting to go too far the other way where games are becoming scrappy as the players know they can get a way with a raft of niggling at the play the ball as he simply allows it all to go on unpunished.



I really worry about the standard of these ref's going in to the business end of the season. The amount of errors they're making is increasing by the week as highlighted by Thaler last week and tonight. We didn't deserve any luck last week because we were so poor but that still doesn't hide the fact that Thaler had a nightmare.

The tone was set in the first tackle when he penalised Wilkin for interfering at the play the ball. Leeds got away with much worse last week and were not penalised once. Two penalties awarded to Wigan in the whole game.



Hohaia milking a penalty changed the course of the game ( Saints hadn't been in it till then) and then 5 minues later Thaler failed to penalise Hohaia for much worse interfering but instead penalised Blanch for attempting to get himself free to play the ball.



Far too many decisions are becoming inaccurate subjective calls, especially VR decisions. I would bet that over 90% of fans would have awarded the Catalans try at the end. Having said that how many would have disallowed the first Catalans try? Did he really have control of the ball when grounding it? It was not from a kick....



The more I think about the Maguire knock on, the more I am annoyed at the touch judges for not standing their ground if there was any doubt ( ie almost insisting Thaler has to go to the VR to clarify the issue) and also at Ganson for not having an immediate word in Thaler's ear that there was a possible knock on.



As for Rush and his attempt at celebrations, what an absolute tw*t....!

Refs are single handedly turning the greatest game into a joke. The rules must change. We are sanitising the sport and taking the entertainment factor out of the game. The red card tonight was laughable, a ban for throwing a punch is laughable.



Our game is becoming devoid of emotion on the pitch, at least the refs are trying to kill it, and without emotion we have a product that is not half as entertaining to watch.



Most people watch our sport for the gladiatorial aspect of it. Nothing better than a boarder line hit to fire up the atmosphere or a bit of handbags, yet this is pretty much being removed from the game along with the x factor.



Sad state of affairs.

Correct

Yep how terrible for a winning coach to celebrate a win. Never seen the monkey man or Madge do that.



Anyway, it's nice to know you are all following our progress with great interest. Are bums getting a little squeaky in Wigan. It's getting to that time of year.

I think it was his celebrating in front of the Catalans fans that people are talking about.

oh yah . really queaky watching your side

ya man you got a real good coach until he meets ***** do i really have to spell it out to you.

I have no problem saying Wigan are the best team in this league. We are not in your class, but then neither is anyone else in this league and neither were Leeds.



Sadly for Wigan, it only takes one game to stop Wigan. Not my rules, and not my prefered method for becoming champions, but Saints could lose 3 times to Wigan and still win SL without playing Wigan in the playoffs.



Hence the squeaky bum comment, the entire season boils down to a home advantage and a 2nd chance. But if Wigan have an offday again, like they did against Leeds or like they did against us in the playoffs last year then it's anyones.

I thought it was a really good game but yes spoilt by the officials. I actually thought the video ref was the poorest official and not Thaler. Good win for saints this at Catalan even if they did get a dodgy call at the end but still well played.

I do get the feeling that a few of the top teams are finding some form and I think we could get some really close play off games this year.

I believe that bad refereeing is adversely affecting our game. Once more Popeye the Thaler-man demonstrates another gem of miss judgment, a red card for what at the very worst was a yellow was just one more of a long list of howling mistakes, errors and sh*te calls this term. There is way too much grand-standing by match officials who seem hell bent on causing controversy, and as for the Dewsbury Dewdrop to say he thinks that Thaler is one of the best referees this season, well, I Know that’s no recommendation, but what a numpty! This match was another Thaler, plus video ref farce! And only those stubborn under-stains off the East lancs would argue.