Rugby League talking points: Refereeing controversy, Super League’s relegation battle and Bradford Bulls’ Odsal goodbye
Scrutiny of the play-off and relegation images Super League’s referees, and the final match of Odsal all feature.
It has been a challenging week to get Super League’s game officials, that possess a thankless enough task without the barrage of criticism they’ve faced from some quarters.
On Friday, St Helens owner Eamonn McManus caused a stir with his comments Concerning the appointment of Robert Hicks to the Challenge Cup final and a Few of the conclusions that the Saddleworth referee created at Wembley, in his programme notes for the game against Castleford Tigers.
Those remarks have observed McManus – who published an announcement on Sunday via the website of the club reiterating his views – known to the RFL’s compliance group.
Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester did not hold back on Sunday was left fuming by the situation which led to Liam Marshall scoring an attempt at Sunday’s 24-16 defeat.
Referee Scott Mikalauskas neglected to ensure Wigan winger Marshall exploited the ball on the appropriate markers by a restart his second try of the match – a decision which incensed Chester.
“You’ve got a referee who’s on the place and just let Liam Marshall exploit it wherever he wanted,” Chester said post-match.
“I really don’t know whether the principles have changed, however, it is only a disgraceful telephone, a disgraceful telephone number. It’s a telephone you shouldn’t get erroneous.”
That defeat left Wakefield, that have only two wins in their past 13 Super League matches, as just a member of 3 teams matches left in the regular season.
A 24-6 victory in Perpignan over Catalans Dragons saw while Huddersfield Giants did similarly by winning, Hull Kingston Rovers remain in that group.
It means bottom side London Broncos should win both of their remaining games away to Rovers – that will be live on Sky Sports this Friday – to have any hope of remaining up after a defeat at home.
The Broncos have defied many naysayers to be in with a chance of avoiding the drop and head coach Danny Ward has supported his team.
“The boys have been devastated because they understand they’ve not done well and they’ve dropped, but it’s a short turnaround and we have got to win the next couple of,” Ward said.
“They’ve been in this situation before and hopefully they could draw on these experiences. It’s must-win time, it’s black and white so that it depends how the boys respond to this and they cope with this pressure and it gets the most out of them”
Catalans’ defeat to Hull KR eliminated them from contention leaving four teams jostling for position behind League Leaders’ Shield winners St Helens.
Castleford Tigers are two things beyond the play-off places following last Friday’s 4-0 defeat away to Saints, while Salford Red Devils, Hull FC and Warrington Wolves are locked on 30 points heading into the last two rounds.
Nonetheless, it’s now year’s Grand Final winners win away to Wakefield.
After a patchy start to their title defence, the Warriors are on a run that has seen them suffer 1 defeat – from rivals St Helens – in their 10 matches since losing in Magic Weekend to Warrington.
Head coach Adrian Lam knows the job isn’t completed yet, but is thrilled with the way his side have seen their groove as the year builds towards the company end.
“The dressing room’s quite excited at the present time,” Lam said. “They know, they have been prepped across the way how important this was and the travel that we have been on to get here.
“I did not need to mention another hand if we had of lost, a potential likelihood of missing out about the five together. That is how close it is.
“Everyone’s worked really hard and I believe we’re in a fantastic place at the moment.”
This was an emotional weekend for the players, staff and supporters of Bradford Bulls because they bid farewell house since 1934.
The floor that has hosted international Tests and once watched over 100,000 fans cram into it for a Challenge Cup final replay will now have its own doors locked after becoming prohibitively expensive to the club, with all the Bulls moving 11 miles off to ground-share in Dewsbury Rams’ Tetley’s Stadium for 2020.
The 7,531 crowd in attendance on Sunday watched Bradford sign off in the ground on a high chairman Andrew Chalmers has pledged the town will be returned to by the club and as they defeated Sheffield Eagles 30-10 at the Championship.
As yet there are no firm plans as to where or when that is.
“It’s sad, but I don’t know the financing in supreme detail so we have only got to keep this team alive and kicking and progressing,” Bulls head coach John Kear said after the win over Sheffield.
“That is what we will be attempting to perform Dewsbury next year before finally we return somewhere in Bradford that’s befitting of a team that is challenging for Super League or has been in Super League.”
Finally, spare a thought for Barrow Raiders, that had to confront the might of Toronto Wolfpack in Canada on Saturday with 14 players.
The Raiders’ squad has been decimated by injuries lately anyhow and the part-timers had several players who were unavailable to create the trip.
Given those circumstances, the defeat – with Barrow’s points all coming from Jamie Dallimore in his 100th appearance for the club against the full-time leaders is no disgrace.
Unfortunately at the next tier, this reduction supported that their relegation to League One following two years back for the Raiders. However, there is place to be Cumbrian representative in the Championship next year.
The 74-6 win at home to West Wales Raiders during the weekend of whitehaven means they just must prevent away defeat to Coventry Bears on Saturday to seal marketing.
Neighbours Workington Town could be coming up too if they can successfully navigate the play-offs after missing last year.
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