Blaming the ref

I never accept blaming the ref, it is just an excuse for losing. It is true that refs vary and some are better than others, but at the highest levels none are so bad that you can't play with them. Playing to the conditions is part of the game, and the ref is part of the conditions. Any team, but particularly a professional team, should adapt to the ref pretty quickly. If he tells you to stop doing something, then stop. A professional team should have done their research and know what is allowed and what isn't. You can try it on in the opening minutes and if the ref pings you, stop. Being a Tigers fan I know that one of their strengths over the years was playing to the edge of what the ref allows, I would encourage all teams to find that edge and play on it but not over it.