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Refereeing Standards Questioned After Close Super League Clash
In a thrilling encounter marking the 5,000th match of Super League, the coaches of Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves, Brad Arthur and Sam Burgess, expressed their concerns regarding the officiating standards following a closely contested game that ended in a 16-14 victory for Warrington. This win propelled the Wolves to third place in the Super League standings, while Leeds remained in sixth position.
The decisive moment came when Jake Thewlis scored the match-winning try shortly after Keenan Palasia was penalized and sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Lachlan Fitzgibbon, a decision that Arthur scrutinized among others. With only ten seconds left on the clock, Leeds was awarded a scrum, but referee Tom Grant ruled that the team had not properly formed the scrum with the required number of players. According to the rules, when a team is reduced to twelve players, only five are required to participate in the scrum.
Arthur voiced his frustration, suggesting that he might need to advocate more vocally for his team’s interests when it comes to refereeing decisions, especially in crucial moments where clarity in understanding the rules is essential. “I’ve seen plenty of those already in the early rounds, so maybe as a coach, I’ll need to complain more about the referees,” he remarked to Sky Sports.
He emphasized the hard work his team has put into maintaining discipline, noting the inconsistency in penalties awarded against his team. “We can’t be the least penalized team across the first few games and then receive seven penalties in the second half tonight,” Arthur remarked. He also defended his players, stressing that they had indeed packed five into the scrum, insisting that there was still time left for a potential comeback.
Meanwhile, Burgess echoed some of Arthur’s sentiments regarding the scrum incident, while also raising questions about two forward passes that he believed had impacted crucial moments in the match. “I just wanted to confirm if the referee thought those passes were indeed forward,” Burgess stated. He acknowledged the difficulty of the referee’s role but insisted that critical calls should be thoroughly assessed, especially given the stakes of the match.
As the teams look ahead, both coaches will surely be reflecting on the decisions that influenced this important match, with calls for improvements in officiating likely to continue. The next round of Super League fixtures promises more excitement, with match-ups that could further alter the standings.
Upcoming Super League Fixtures
Saturday, March 29
5:30 PM: Catalans Dragons vs St Helens
Sunday, March 30
3:00 PM: Huddersfield Giants vs Hull Kingston Rovers
3:00 PM: Wigan Warriors vs Salford Red Devils
Sky Sports will cover every Super League match live this season, featuring two exclusive live matches each round along with the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+.
Source
www.skysports.com