Good game spoilt

I would not start with chase i would put him on the bench and start with widup

South Sydney ..... on balance the right side won ... but have to say it, and this ain't whinging i did think the 50/50 calls went your way. They didn't decide the game, but certainly had an effect.

I thought the ref looked off the pace for periods (for both sides), i just think it's a shame that the sport can't find reliable and experienced refs from across all nationalities to officiate these games. Interpretations from Northern/Southern whistle blowers will always exist - you can sort of get used to that, but this guy looked out of his depth.

I just hope the same 2 sides make the final - it'd be a cracker in front of a full house at Elland Road - i'll be there for sure.

He was obviously chosen (the ref) because he is a nutural but I agree he wasn't ready for a Eng - Aus. international match, he has only got 12 months experience in the top grade and considering how long N-Z have been in the NRL I would of thought the refereeing ranks might have increased but it hasn't.......you could see by the look on his he was struggling at times, where the good referees look more relaxed and the occasional smile.

But I'll never agree that any ref goes into any game thinking of certain coments made about him by a coach, they are to professional for that garbage in my opinion....

Souths, I think you must have had your green and gold specs on when you watched the Briscoe try. The ball clearly didn't touch the ground - it came close but didn't touch.
It didn't affect the outcome but would have made for a more exciting finish. There was no excuse for not handing it to video ref - the refs eyes / judgement were clearly not right as he heard telling Tony Williams that he hit Westwood on the shoulder.

I think we will beat NZ at the weekend and then play you again in the final - I just hope they let Chechin or Bentham ref it, the guy was clearly out of his depth.

England will beat the kiwis then we can go to another final against the Aussies and get battered 44-4 again

Surely the tournament could have used a completely neutral ref (a certain Frenchman)..... !

I thought our commentators gave the refs some stick, but my god those two gallah's last week were giving the ref so much rubbish (this could be where so many get their own judgement from) and over the top with the one eyed call......they did apologise to the southerners watching for the one sided call that we were subjected to but on more then 3 occasions they went off at the ref about one thing or another only to find he was correct when the replay proved the ball was either stripped or just lost, but instead of retracting their comment they would then say the ref called it different at the time.
There was also times when, if this pair had of shut up we could of listened to referee and found out why a decision was made, except these two wouldn't shut giving their rubbish opinion....if you were to sit and just listen to these to gallah's yes you would believe the game was rigged. I honestly don't how you can put yourself through such rubbish week in week out they are pathetic......

Souths you seem to be under the impression that none of us know anything about the ganea nd only get our opinions from Eddie and Stevo on Sky, when they are widely regarding over here as being opinionated fools. I guess it will always be the case that fans of the two teams view decisions differently but there were several bad decisions in the game that mostly went against England.

I would love to have Rabbits and co commenting on the games over here but we have to put up with the muppets we have.

In the early days of RL on Sky Sports i found the commentary and insight from Eddie and Stevo quite entertaining and part of the overall package. I've got to say though that of late (well the last few seasons), they've become increasingly boring and tedious.

I think they've fallen into the same opinionated trap that Andy Gray and Co did with Footie commentary. They were so long in post, that they thought their opinions were gospel and that they somehow had a major influence on the sport and how it's run.

I actually switched channels mid-game when i found that the Beeb was also showing it live (and in HD). While his voice might be a bit grating (Jiffy Davies), i find his commentary both neutral and interesting......

RhinoDon, sorry if it came across that I was putting every supporter under the one blanket, it was not my intentions....I just get annoyed with people when we are having a good old fashioned debate over an ale and people use an article as some sort of back up as if it was gospel and quote word for word why this is going to happen or that is going to happen... it really does my head in.

There is nothing better then having a good old chat when someone has a different opinion to what I think, it is good for the arteries, as long as it is coming from the heart of that believe and not page 87 of the news paper...