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 closing game of Odsal all feature this week.
It’s been a difficult week for Super League’s game officials, that have a thankless enough job without the barrage of criticism they’ve faced from some quarters.
On Friday, St Helens owner Eamonn McManus caused a stir with his remarks Concerning the appointment of Robert Hicks into the Challenge Cup and a Few of the decisions the Saddleworth referee made in his notes, at Wembley to the match against Castleford Tigers.
Those comments have observed McManus – who published an announcement on Sunday via the site of the club reiterating his views – known into the RFL’s compliance group.
Wakefield Trinity head coach Chris Chester did not hold back on Sunday either, was left fuming by the circumstances which led to Liam Marshall scoring a try at Sunday’s 24-16 defeat.
Referee Scott Mikalauskas failed to ensure Wigan winger Marshall tapped on the ball on the mark from a 20-metre restart before extending the length of this area to score his second try of the game – a decision that incensed Chester.
“You’ve got a referee who’s on the place and just let Liam Marshall exploit wherever he desired,” Chester said post-match.
“I don’t know whether the rules have changed, but it is only a disgraceful telephone, a disgraceful call. It is a phone you shouldn’t get erroneous.”
That conquer Wakefield, that have only two wins in their past 13 Super League games, as only one of 3 groups squeezing two points above the relegation location with two games left in the regular time.
A success in Perpignan over Catalans Dragons watched while Huddersfield Giants did similarly by winning 22-12 around the road at Hull FC Hull Kingston Rovers remain in that group.
It means bottom side London Broncos should now win both of their remaining games away to Rovers – which will be live on Sky Sports this Friday – to have some hope of remaining up following a defeat at home to Leeds Rhinos on Sunday.
The Broncos have defied many naysayers to become in with a chance of avoiding the fall and head coach Danny Ward has supported his team.
“The boys have been ruined because they know they have not done well and they have lost, but it is a brief turnaround and we have got to win the next two,” Ward explained.
“They’ve been in this situation before and hopefully they could draw on those experiences. It’s must-win time, it is black and white so that it depends how the boys respond to that and hopefully they deal with that pressure and it will get the most out of them”
Catalans’ defeat to Hull KR eliminated them in contention leaving four groups jostling for position behind League Leaders’ Shield winners St Helens.
Castleford Tigers are just two things outside the play-off areas after Friday’s 4-0 defeat to Saints, whereas Hull FC Warrington Wolves along with Salford Red Devils are locked on 30 points going into the final two rounds.
But it is now the Grand Final winners Wigan who head on the chasing bunch after Sunday’s win away to Wakefield of year.
Against rivals St Helens – into their 10 matches since dropping at Magic Weekend to Warrington, the Warriors are presently on a run which has seen them suffer 1 defeat – Following a start to their title defence.
Head coach Adrian Lam understands the job is not completed yet, but is delighted with the way.
“The dressing area’s fairly excited at the moment,” Lam said. “They know, they’ve been prepped along the way how significant this was and the travel that we’ve been around to get here.
“I didn’t need to mention another side if we had of missing, a potential likelihood of missing out to the five collectively. That is how close it is.
“Everyone’s worked extremely hard and I think we are 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 ground that has hosted international Tests and once saw over 100,000 fans cram into it to get a Challenge Cup final playoff will now have its own doors locked after becoming prohibitively expensive to the club, together with the Bulls moving 11 miles away to ground-share at Dewsbury Rams’ Tetley’s Stadium for 2020.
The 7,531 crowd in attendance Sunday saw Bradford sign off at the famous old ground in a top as they defeated Sheffield Eagles 30-10 from the Championship and also chairman Andrew Chalmers has pledged the club will go back to the city.
As yet there are no firm plans as to where or when that will be.
“It is sad, but I really don’t understand the finances in supreme detail so we have just got to keep this club alive and kicking and hopefully progressing,” Bulls head coach John Kear said following the win over Sheffield.
“That is what we will be trying to perform Dewsbury following year before finally we come back someplace in Bradford that is befitting of a team that’s difficult for Super League or is in Super League.”
Spare a thought for Barrow Raiders, who had to face the might of Toronto Wolfpack in Canada on Saturday with only 14 players.
The Raiders’ squad was decimated by injuries in recent weeks anyway and the had several players that were unavailable to make the trip that was more than 3,000-mile.
Given those circumstances, the defeat – with all Barrow’s points coming from Jamie Dallimore in his 100th appearance for the club against the leaders is no disgrace.
Unfortunately this reduction supported that their relegation after two decades back in the second grade. There is set to be one Cumbrian representative at the Championship next year.
The 74-6 win at home to West Wales Raiders on the weekend of whitehaven means that they only must prevent defeat to Coventry Bears on Saturday to seal promotion.
Neighbours Workington Town may be arriving too if they could browse the play-offs after falling .
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