We do need to be better, I agree. Whatever the reason, you don't want to be hanging around the top end of the table for pens conceded at any time. It's hard to be too critical though as there's been so much inconsistency in the reffing that it must be hard to earmark and correct areas when they're not a penalty one week, then are the next. Someone else has mentioned Dupree actually asking the ref for help on what he needed to do to not concede a penalty and where exactly he should stand not to be penalised. The ref didn't seem to offer any assistance which makes it doubly bad.

When you're being penalised for playing the ball correctly or standing square (the ref seemed unable to tell the difference between not square and peering round first marker so you can see the play the ball!) how are you supposed to correct that? Play the ball even more correctly? Line your head and arms with the first marker so you only create a single outline? It's absolutely barmy!

Incidentally, isn't it interesting that no one deems it worthy of note that the ref sent an obvious 'no try' up as 'try' and the video ref was unable to find sufficient evidence to overturn it. Was it because it went against us rather than for us? Or the Mago try being ruled out without it even being referred to the video ref!

It's the what I call situational pens that drive me nuts. Perfect example is a markers not square type pen. There was one Vs Hudds where our guys were both slightly over to the short side and Hudds went open. It was an obvious disadvantage to us, but he still give the pen. The situation had no impact on either, Hudds ability to attack, or the wider flow of the game. It was just a moronic, binary decisions with no feel/thinking for the game, or anyone else apart from his own box ticking exercise.

People wanting to watch a game of rugby break out? F them, we've got pens to give. People supporting their team and wanting to see fair decisions (Mago no try)? F them, it's more important the ref backs himself than making a right call.

In every sense of the word, they really are pathetic.

Whilst agreeing with some of your points and often get frustrated (certain markers not square decisions are frustrating this year as certain times players are caught not square when trying to get back to marker, where they'd be better just lying in the ruck and not being penalised), I'll be honest, some of your Rhetoric and use of language towards the officials has been for a couple of years and continues to be, pretty crap if I'm honest

Without going into detail, every coach speaks/reviews issues with the refereeing department virtually every week
A lot of the application of the rules comes.from feedback from coaches etc, but they will also continue to push/find other ways to circumvent those same rules and the application of them

I won't be getting involved in a back and forth as it's pretty clear your NEVER GOING TO BE HAPPY with anything relating to officials

But I can assure you they are right a very very very high % of the time
They apply laws and applications of the rules a very very high % of the time
And they do work with coaches/players/clubs etc and feedback is given both ways weekly.

To make certain assumptions and use language like "Moronic" is poor
Your Hudds example, players not standing square "Could" affect which way teams play and feedback has been given that teams were pushing one way at marker to encourage teams to play one way is an example
It's irrelevant which way the dummy half plays after the markers are not square, they may have played that way due to markers not being square
However this was done after consultation with coaches etc.
They are applying the law in place and application of it in consultation

Referee's and officials will always be blamed, I just think some of the language surrounding it needs to be tempered a bit.

Each to their own if you want to defend them.

Personally I can't stand them or the way they go about things. I saw an oldish video doing the rounds the other day of a Newcastle Knights skipper telling the ref he'd got it wrong and "had cost them the game". The ref saw his ar$e over it as, obviously the player isn't allowed an opinion. Thou shall not tell the truth to the ref. It might hurt his feelings.

Half the stuff I'd actually like to write about the refs wouldn't get through the filters on here. I just pray that one day we (as in the sport in the UK ) grows a backbone when it comes to them. It was refreshing to see Moore get the brunt of the Aussie media post the WCC, even tho wigan benefited from it on the night.

What would you do to improve matters in the short/medium/long term?

Without the refs we have no game,they make mistakes,players make mistakes,we all do.

Spot on

That's not really an argument though, is it?

"Without the players..."
"Without the fans..."
"Without the owners..."

Just because we need them in order to play the game (just like we need the others to play/finance it), doesn't excuse the fact that we really need GOOD ones - After all, they're supposed to be professionals.

In recent years, it just feels as though they've been forced to rush through a good number of poorly prepared referees, just to make up the numbers for those leaving/retiring & to now provide Video Refs for every game.

Didnt realise it was an argument I was just stating a fact.
The players are professionals and they also get things wrong also another fact.

More facts...

The players also get graded (certainly in Wigan Today) for their performance out of 10. They get built up, knocked down, dropped etc. Look at the analysis/chatter on Snyed's short kick off. People are happy to knock him and then, in the same breath, tell you to lay off the ref as "everyone makes mistakes". It's hypocrisy at best. At worst it's robotic RL thinking that the ref is some kind of god, not to be questioned.