Is he now a fully professional referee? Did he go through an interview for this post? An aptitude test perhaps?
Some of his decisions tonight were so wrong you could do nothing but laugh. Almost every scrum was started with either Gareth Hock or James Graham starting a sentance with, "How the f@/% is that.." to which Thaler responded with his reasoning and all players within earshot immediately had the same stunned expression
His decision to refer the Gidley try suggested to me that his bottle had gone. He saw that full on, the other officials had no issues and Gidley never let go of the ball at all, yet he refers it just in case he missed something. Then Graham busts a tackle and shimmies away on his knees to the tune of "Play on, play on, play on" from Thaler. When he regains his feet, now not even touching a Wiganer and starts running Thaler changes his mind, "4th play it!". I though Graham was going to eat him.
Then Sam Tomkins knocks in full view of 3 on field officials and the 'voice in the ear' and he decides he's seen a stray go-go-gadget arm from a Saints player that came out of the line, round Sam Tomkins back and naughtily pushed the ball onto the floor. To round it off nicely Bailey hits Clough (?) so high his arm impacted on the forehead then gave him a skinhead and his decision is play on.
If his decisions weren't bad enough his communication with the players was appalling. Every single player left him questioning his sanity or questioning a case of mistaken identity.
was the expression of choice tonight.
And the Ainscough video referee decision? Go on then, amuse me.
Does the grass count as part of the pitch? If so, it was the most blatant no try ever. White grass all over his knee, the underside of which would have been firmly down. Serious question, is the grass part of the pitch?
