Like many I do get frustrated with a number of decisions and a perception of standards not improving. That said I believe there are a couple of problems which the rfl system creates for the refs and only addressing those problems will see an improvement in standards.
The issues as I see them are:
1. Not enough refs in the rotation (Ganson, Silverwood, Bentham, Alibert, Thaler, Hicks & Child) - this leads to over familiarity of refs to teams/players and inevitably to refs seeing what they expect to see as they are looking out for those things. This is compounded by generally giving refs who are perceived as better the bigger games, which means the lesser refs the lesser games.
2. I understand that the refs are briefed over various things to look out for from each team, that is not correct, in effect they are being told to enforce different rules against different teams, that is just wrong.
3. Discipline/Respect - lack of backbone by the RFL. The RFL are reluctant to suspend players at key times in the season - so that the best show is put on in the play offs / challenge cup final. That does undermine the refs, both Alibert & Childs are examples of refs that permit to much mouthing off from players, but is that because there is a tolerance that should not be there. This also seems to lead to incidents being put on report rather than sin-binnings happening during the match.
Taking that thought on, how many Leeds matches resort to fisticuffs if they are losing? Quite a number, players of all teams get frustrated when things are going badly, if that escalates if not dealt with properly. If any team starts mouthing, bin someone, don't encourage the refs to keep the game a spectacle/contest and thereby increase the problem.
So what about solutions:
Add more refs to the rotation, at least three more. They don't all have to be full time (They are not all full time anyway, James Child certainly is not as I have come across him in my job). That will address over-familiarity and while say Gareth Hewer may not be quite as good as say Phil Bentham, it will help Mr Bentham reach his best standard more often, therby driving standards up
Do not brief the refs on Stuart Cummings perception of who does what, that is simply unfair (and perhaps also indicative that Mr Cummings is not the man to drive up refereeing standards, though he may have made many recommendations that are not implimented, so perhaps he is). If a ref makes a genuine error we can all accept that (well most of us), but we all feel aggreived when we get picked up for offside but the opposition dont (think Sunday, in the same match Leeds got picked up for not square and we did not, that is down to referee briefing - he was watching for different things).
Back the refs decisions and back the disciplinary panel, if player x will miss the Grand Final because of foul play so be it, whomsoever he is or plays for. If clubs appeal bans where it is untenable, increase the ban.
If someone abuses the ref, bin him, does it again send him off - the coaches will soon stop that at present, in a professional game players and coaches will try and pressure/influence a ref in any way they can. Give the ref the tools to stop that.
In short I think the fault is with the RFL, support the refs properly and the standard will improve. Improve the standard and the need for clarifications disappears.