Ben Thaler : Tue Sep 24, 2024 11:04 am  

The game on Sunday will be his last because he is retiring and hanging up his whistle. I have always thought that he was one of the best who despite the technology available to him preferred in many cases his own judgment which on occasion caused him problems.

Re: Ben Thaler : Tue Sep 24, 2024 11:35 am  

A great referee and a character as well. He'll be missed and I hope he's not lost to the game. With his experience he would be ideal to mentor some of the up and coming referees.
I wish him well ( which I can't say about some referees)

Re: Ben Thaler : Tue Sep 24, 2024 11:43 am  

poplar cats alive wrote:

A great referee and a character as well. He'll be missed and I hope he's not lost to the game. With his experience he would be ideal to mentor some of the up and coming referees.
I wish him well ( which I can't say about some referees)

I like the fact that he tends to let the game run without intervening where possible. Something clearly brought about by experience.

One of the good ones.

Though I have noticed a number of young refs in the champ lately which I’m all for too. Let’s hope the next gen are as good.

Re: Ben Thaler : Tue Sep 24, 2024 6:57 pm  

He seems to have been outside the inner sanctum, for a couple of years now.
I wonder if his style is not in tune with the way things are reffed these days.

Re: Ben Thaler : Tue Sep 24, 2024 7:34 pm  

I remember Powell/Cas complaining about him once showing bias towards us and we rarely had him officiating us after that.