Ben Thaler Retires

[LeeF]

https://www.rugby-league.com/article/63137/belle-vue-swansong-for-thaler

Fortunately still remaining involved in the game both with the recruitment and development of match officials and as a video ref 

[48C North Stand]

A good official. Loved the way he operated as video ref with quick decisions. He was one who referred to the video ref less when on the field too. 

Always had a bit of the Brian Glover character in Kes about him.... 

[SUPERSTUD]

From one Wakey lad to another. Congratulations Ben on a fantastic on field career. Really proud to class you as a friend albeit on a casual basis. Such as your family and the likes of your late loved mentor the great Fred Lindop will be/would be absolutely made up to see how much you have achieved. For me your legacy will be a no nonsense likeable official. Also a great guy away from the game. Enjoy the next phase of your career and I know that you will give it your all to assist all the future officials. Well done lad .

[moorside roughyed]

Good, solid ref. No messing around. He'll be missed.

[Sports Prophet]

27 minutes ago, 48C North Stand said:

A good official. Loved the way he operated as video ref with quick decisions. He was one who referred to the video ref less when on the field too. 

Always had a bit of the Brian Glover character in Kes about him.... 

frankly I thought his VR decisions were prolonged, over exaggerated and slow. 

regardless, a good career and one of the better on field referees of his generation.

[Just Browny]

I won't be hardfaced and say I haven't argued with a few of his decisions down the years. However, he has had a terrific career, has been a great referee, and I wish him all the best once he hangs his boots up. Hell of a job for our sport to do that job for as long as he has.

[bromleybulldog]

Will be missed. I much preferred his somewhat 'old school' get on with it attitude towards players, no nonsense and not afraid to make decisions unlike the majority of today's refs who I think would be lost without the back up of the VR to rely on. Hope he's not lost to the game. Thanks, Ben!

[M j M]

A big loss. At his peak he was the best in the game and even latterly his management of players contrasted very favourably with most of the other refs. His on field presence will be missed.

[ATLANTISMAN]

Lovely guy Ben 

[Chronicler of Chiswick]

Made my favourite overheard remark on the ref's mike - 'You got him round the neck, it's the thing that joins your chest (point) to yer head (point)'.

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

Head and shoulders above the rest.  Glad to hear he's still being involved in the game once he retires.

Should really have the Championship Play Off Final as his swansong.

Edited September 24 by Wollo Wollo Wayoo

[DavidM]

Always wondered why he wasn’t being used more in SL , good common sense ref with good communications with players 

[Wollo Wollo Wayoo]

17 minutes ago, DavidM said:

Always wondered why he wasn’t being used more in SL ,

 

good common sense ref with good communications with players 

You've answered your own query there!

[Welshleaguelover]

Nice and slow. That's it, stop there. Nice and slow. Nice and slow.

[Mark S]

Have you got that article from another angle?

[Blind side johnny]

Good old fashioned kind of ref who like to keep the game going as much as possible. When a decision was required then no-nonsense fitted the bill. He reffed my lot against Swinton on Sunday - two reds and two yellows, every one deserved.

And not least, he always came into the bar after a match and was happy to discuss his decisions.

Good luck to him, he will be missed.

[M j M]

I actually think Thaler, unchained from his RFL role and free to speak his mind, would do the Cummings role on Sky really well. He is opinionated, honest and smart, qualities our commentary teams are desperately missing.

[Anita Bath]

1 hour ago, Blind side johnny said:

Good old fashioned kind of ref who like to keep the game going as much as possible. When a decision was required then no-nonsense fitted the bill. He reffed my lot against Swinton on Sunday - two reds and two yellows, every one deserved.

And not least, he always came into the bar after a match and was happy to discuss his decisions.

Good luck to him, he will be missed.

Really? He reffed the Keighley v Hornets play off game on Sunday (one red one yellow). 

[Just Browny]

I reckon if Ben Thaler had reffed Swinton v Doncaster, and not Scott Mikalauskas, he'd have done a good job too.

[Coggo]

Can’t help but think of this when Ben Thaler is mentioned

https://audioboom.com/posts/7177670-ben-thaler-vs-terry-griffiths

[The Hallucinating Goose]

I'll certainly miss shouting abuse at him from the terraces and lobbing drinks cans onto the pitch in a truly heartfelt way to soak him in Dr. Pepper... 

Just kidding! A great ref who'll be really missed! 

[Blind side johnny]

18 hours ago, Anita Bath said:

Really? He reffed the Keighley v Hornets play off game on Sunday (one red one yellow). 

I watched the game as a neutral. What did he do wrong?

[Anita Bath]

4 hours ago, Blind side johnny said:

I watched the game as a neutral. What did he do wrong?

I wasnt indicating anything about his performance. You said he reffed Swinton v Doncaster on Sunday which I found strange since he reffed the Keighley v Hornets game on the same day (and at the same time).

One of us has their lines crossed somewhere.

[Blind side johnny]

6 minutes ago, Anita Bath said:

I wasnt indicating anything about his performance. You said he reffed Swinton v Doncaster on Sunday which I found strange since he reffed the Keighley v Hornets game on the same day (and at the same time).

One of us has their lines crossed somewhere.

My mistake, he refereed us (Dewsbury) v Swinton on the Sunday before.

[StandOffHalf]

Credit to him for reffing.

Good luck to him in whatever he pursues next.