2026 refereeing thread

[Oscar Martinez]

It's all about who the refs' masters want in the 8.
Melbourne get help every year because let's face it nobody in Victoria would watch the finals if Melbourne wasn't playing.
Last year they needed Brisbane to shore up the Queensland market.
This year they're putting their eggs in the Bulldogs grabbing the Sout West of Sydney, so you can expect us to have a very very difficult season when it comes to the referees.
That jabroni yesterday did everything but score the tries for the Bulldogs, and the fact that the judiciary said nothing to see here out of that game says it all.

 

[426Tlgerland]

Dogs got lucky again with poor ref calls , high hits , nothing , Forward pass from Galvin , nothing , strip in the last minutes was disgraceful, it was a loose carry with no dragons players doing any wrong , ripped off by ref again , we will need to be on our best to get results , keep tackles chest high max , and if one of our guys gets hit high I would expect the whole team to run in , no punch’s just swarm , then I also expect API or who is on the field as captain to blow up delux , don’t walk away when ref says so just do a Cameron smith and keep at the ref every time

 

[TheEnz]

Dogs got lucky again with poor ref calls , high hits , nothing , Forward pass from Galvin , nothing , strip in the last minutes was disgraceful, it was a loose carry with no dragons players doing any wrong , ripped off by ref again , we will need to be on our best to get results , keep tackles chest high max , and if one of our guys gets hit high I would expect the whole team to run in , no punch’s just swarm , then I also expect API or who is on the field as captain to blow up delux , don’t walk away when ref says so just do a Cameron smith and keep at the ref every time

Cam smith used to manipulate the ref from the starting whistle. Api needs to be continuously engaging with the ref throughout the game and if he cant do it give the captaincy to AD as i know he loves to talk.

 

[hank37w]

Dragons at times were their own worst enemy...yeah they copped bad calls throughout the game but you never win against a ref.
Reminded me .of us a few years back

What?

You believe that crap is over.

 

[hank37w]

I guess if the refs are gonna be consistent and direct contact with the head is ok this year we won’t have to worry about Seyfarth getting sin-binned or suspended 👍.

There will always be the exception to the rule. 🤣

 

[hank37w]

Cam smith used to manipulate the ref from the starting whistle. Api needs to be continuously engaging with the ref throughout the game and if he cant do it give the captaincy to AD as i know he loves to talk.

Doueihi could, but if all else fails, he could give the ref the khod.

 

[innsaneink]

What?

You believe that crap is over.

Our discipline has improved a helluva lot...we couldnt compete in the ruck, we had to slow it somehow...infringing was all we had left

 

[LARDS]

I guess if the refs are gonna be consistent and direct contact with the head is ok this year we won’t have to worry about Seyfarth getting sin-binned or suspended 👍.

Ha ha. When was the last time refs were consistent?

 

[tiger_one]

Guaranteed for 2026:
This thread will be the most maddening.

 

[Buttface]

Guaranteed for 2026:
This thread will be the most maddening.

I was just thinking similar, this thread is gunna blow up after our first loss, possibly before.

 

[Buttface]

Guaranteed for 2026:
This thread will be the most maddening.

I reckon Stephen Criton has worked it out though, you just gotta go up and say sorry to the bloke you just coat hangered and wave to ya team and the fans and the tv with a god I hope they don’t bin me look on ya face and there’ll be nothing to see here.

 

[tiger_one]

I reckon Stephen Criton has worked it out though, you just gotta go up and say sorry to the bloke you just coat hangered and wave to ya team and the fans and the tv with a god I hope they don’t bin me look on ya face and there’ll be nothing to see here.

And champion @Buttface - mate, that angry face is all about the cheating you-know-what - NOT you.

 

[HUNT 101]

Cam smith used to manipulate the ref from the starting whistle. Api needs to be continuously engaging with the ref throughout the game and if he cant do it give the captaincy to AD as i know he loves to talk.

I think Cook tried to talk to the ref at one point it the game and I'm fairly certain he was told "go away"..we should be sweet this year....🤪 sure we will...