Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell has confirmed he will be asking questions to RFL Head of Referees Phil Bentham following his side’s loss to Warrington Wolves.

Trinity lost 27-16 to Warrington on Saturday evening with Daryl Powell’s side suffering a second loss in Super League, however, he was again left pondering how green cards are being used in 2026.

After his side’s shock round one defeat to Toulouse, for which he made no excuses and admitted to Trinity being simply outplayed, Powell raised a question over how the green card was being used.

A green card is administered if a player goes down and requires medical attention with the player then leaving the field for two minutes, rendering their side one player short. The law was introduced to stop players from feigning injury and to discourage time-wasting, however, Powell is now seeking clarification on the law.

Confirming that hooker Tyson Smoothy had failed a HIA, Powell spoke in his post-match presser and admitted: “That’s one thing I don’t understand and would seek clarification on because this has happened to us a couple of times now.

“(In round one) Cam Scott gets hit on the head and stays down and gets a green card. Today, Tyson gets hit on the head and ends up leaving the field for a HIA, which he fails later on but he gets hit, the game stops and there is no penalty given. Then there is a penalty given when George Williams stays down in the second half, so what are we doing?

“Are we doing that (green cards) or not? That would be my question to Phil (Bentham, head of referees) when I speak to him because I don’t understand why.”

Wakefield Trinity boss airs green card concerns

England captain George Williams was caught high by Trinity captain Mike McMeeken in the second-half of Warrington’s win over Wakefield with no penalty initially given. However, Williams stayed down with the referee eventually blowing time to allow him to receive medical attention, at which point a penalty was confirmed.

Salford RFLC CEO Ryan Brierley was commentating for the BBC and effectively made the point that Daryl Powell was asking, with Brierley stating: “It’s really hard because if George gets up and plays the ball then I don’t think that penalty gets given.”

Warrington would then kick that penalty to make it 22-10 but Williams did not have leave the field with a green card, something that for Powell was inconsistent with previous instances this year.

The Wakefield boss said: “I think there have been numerous times this year, there was one in a Hull game the other week when there was a hip drop and a player had to leave the field. It was seen on video and it should have been a penalty but it wasn’t given, so what are we doing and can you tell me please? That’s what I’ll be asking.”

He also felt it brought into question if players are now returning to the habit of staying down to earn penalties – the main issues that the green card was introduced to stop.

“It doesn’t make sense really,” Powell declared.

“It’s different and all we’re after is consistency and that will help because I’m wondering are we now staying down again to get a decision or not? That’s confused me tonight.”

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