Shute Shield 2013

[thecow]

Ok, here we go. Strap yourselves in.

The standard of refereeing in SS is just as culpable for the terribel state of the game in this state (and probably country) as any major balls up Dingo Deans, Dave Nucifora and Jim L'Estrange ever committed.

The referee's department is nothing short of bureaucratic egotistical game destroyers.

They are encouraged to referee based on pre-conceptions of teams performance rather than just call it as they see it.

They are a protected species and are not allowed to be constructively criticised. Thus any mistakes they make, of which there are plenty, are not pointed out and the referee continues to regularly make the same mistakes in every match.

The health of the game is on it's death bed when the quality of the match is determined by the appointment officer.

I would definetely say that we are NOT a protected species. Every 1st Grade match has an assessor (some of the assessors include Wayne Erickson, Peter Marshall and John McCarthy). When we are watched, regardless of the level, we do an honest, open review of the game, and the assessor/referee coach adds his comments.

I can also say that we are DEFINITELY not told to referee based on pre-conceptions of teams, and I think that this is a poor view to be taken.

Now if you believe that the refereeing performances haven't been up to scratch, your next question would be why referees aren't being dropped? Simple. Aren't enough referees in NSW. When the school season is in full swing, with Schools games as well, many referees are doubling up. There simply isn't the numbers to cope with the number of games in Sydney on a Saturday.

 

[thecow]

I actually prefer guys like Angus Gardner, Ian Smith and James Leckie to Steve Walsh. If you ever get an opportunity to listen to Walsh on the sports ears, you'd be surprised at the way he talks to players. The other guys empathy towards game management is in my opinion superior, and less 'hollywood'. I agree that Moyes is good, and although I haven't always had good results with him, Nathan Pearce is a solid ref.

But bring back George Ayoub. I always loved it when he was on my games

I agree to an extent with Steve Walsh, however, it has to be said that the way players talk to referees needs to improve as well. If they don't like being talked to that way then they shouldn't talk to the referee that way either! Can't be all your own way!

 

[thecow]

I'd suggest James Leckie and Ian Smith are both up there with the 2 you have mentioned and I think they've both at least ref'd at S15 level. I think the standard at SS 1st grade level is pretty good particularly when you compare them to some of the questionable refereeing performances we've seen in S15 and internationals over the last couple of years. Hopefully some of these guys will progress through to be regular test refs. I think at one stage we may have had 4 (Dickenson, Marshall, Erickson and one from Qld?) on the international roster.

I also have a theory that referees who spend most of their time refereeing tests (under the watchful eyes of the international board) are too pedantic when they come back to the SS. I'd rather have guys who normally ref at club level doing the playoffs as they are more in synch with the game at that level. I've seen a couple of GFs spoiled by refs thinking they are being auditioned for the World Cup final.

Although we all rubbish the ref from time to time we don't have anywhere near the problems some other sports (eg cricket) have with the quality of decision making when it comes to major decisions eg try v no try IMO.

From my experience, when I drop down from Subbies Colts to Juniors, having refereed at State Championships and Regionals this year, and dropping back down to Junior Club footy on Sundays, that it is tempting to be pedantic, because the standard is very different. However, what I have found is that it can be easier to open the game up, because the preventative communication that I use in Colts matches, is a much higher standard than what the younger years are used to, so they respond better to it and the penalty count usually lowers.

 

[wamberal]

All referees deserve to be supported and encouraged by all of us, players, supporters, officials, sponsors, - everybody attached to the game. No referees, no rugby, simple as that.

 

[2bluesfan]

Parra welcomed Thommo back from the USA by beating Easts 24-19. Tough game, Easts stole a thousand balls from Parra while Parra were threatening but somehow the Two Blues scored enough points to win.

 

[wamberal]

Great result for Parra! Next year, a premiership. I hope.

 

[Andrew B Cox]

I've seen the result, but did anyone see James O'Connor out there for West Harbour today?

Concord's pretty close to a 24 hour Hungry jack's too.

 

[Done that]

Terrific game by O'Connor , scored 2 tries ,set up another ,& clearly a class above anyone else on the field.
With 6 first graders missing West Harbour not good enough , & made a lot of fundamental mistakes , costing them any chance.
A howler by the linesman in the final minutes to rival that seen at Old Trafford on Friday robbed West Harbour of a try & a bonus point , but
Warringah deserved the win.
From memory ,David Harvey kicked 8 out of 8.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

For all the anti-Bieber posts on the various Wobs threads, good on him for turning out for the Pirates.

Hope he keeps it up for the rest of the rounds.

 

[Samcorno]

Can anyone comment on Gordons future...why are they going soooooo baddd!!!!

 

[Hugh Jarse]

^^^ Do you have any leads Samcorno?

 

[Samcorno]

^^^ Do you have any leads Samcorno?

Wish I did

 

[Gibbo]

I'll answer an specific questions you have Samcorno

 

[rugbyvet]

Uni looking very very strong in yesterday's game with half of their team missing also. Will take a very special performance to beat them. Souths were very disappointing though

 

[Dave Beat]

Uni looking very very strong in yesterday's game with half of their team missing also. Will take a very special performance to beat them. Souths were very disappointing though

Scoreline surprised me, I thought Souths forward pack would have dominated and layed the platform for the backs. Haven't watched the game yet and am keen to see how it flowed.
Hoping all teams hit the finals with full compliment of players, the team that knocks over Uni will need to be patient and compete in the backs. Patients and Game plan

 

[southsider]

Uni looking very very strong in yesterday's game with half of their team missing also. Will take a very special performance to beat them. Souths were very disappointing though

I think we missed our players being away in argentina a lot more than uni did. Yes they have a tonne of super players that wernt playing BUT in saying that there can only be 22-23 (not sure which one their doing in the SS) players in a matchday team and the calibre of the players missing, for the most part, are similar to those that played on the weekend whereas the players who filled in for souths were not as good as the people they were replacing

that's my positive thinking anyway

 

[2bluesfan]

Thommo was a little jetlagged yesterday but that didn't stop him attending the Two Blues v Eastern Suburbs match where Parra ran out winners 24-19. Geoff Baldwin's match report is on the Two Blues website.

 

[refugee]

Can university be beaten in the finals?
How

 

[southsider]

Can university be beaten in the finals?
How

kneecap them, kneecap them all............

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

Really disappointed with Souths yesterday. You know what you're going to get from Uni: big bodies in motion, crashing into the gain line, contesting hard at the breakdown and trying to win the collisions. Souths started well but when Uni ramped up the physical pressure they didn't seem to want to know about it. Those sparkling backs they've got won't do much good unfortunately if they forwards are constantly getting driven back in the contact zone. It was the same when they met last time too. It seemed to me that they got beaten up until they got a bit sick of it and went lateral.

The other thing was that rather shit spectacle right on half time when the Souths wing blindsided Mitchell. I know Mitchell had been a dickhead right before that, but if you're going to throw a punch at least do it when you're facing a bloke.