Two Super League coaches have very different opinions on a disallowed try call which occurred in yesterday’s Super League action.
Wakefield Trinity secured a play-off spot in their win over York Knights, with a 28-12 result enough to see them confirmed in the finals for a second year running.
However, the game could have been a lot different, with the score level at 12-12 with just under 20 minutes to go. Scores from Jayden Myers, Max Jowitt and Lachlan Walmsley ultimately pulled Trinity away from the Knights, but there was tension in the air at Belle Vue, mainly from the supporters who had seen their side lose the three games prior.
Despite Wakefield taking home the two points, one crucial ‘no try’ call left boss Daryl Powell feeling very aggrieved, and it only increased his frustrations towards the match officials after a similar outburst last week.
Trinity had a try chalked off for obstruction in the second half, with Max Jowitt appearing to impede the York defenders from tackling, and by the end of the play Tyson Smoothy found himself over for a four-pointer.
The obstruction was around 40 metres from the line, with plenty happening in the play before the ball was touched down, however, video referee Tom Grant deemed there to be enough evidence to overturn the decision.
Powell said to the press post-match: “I had a conversation with the ref’s department about the disallowed try last week at Wigan, which should have been allowed. It was pretty clear that, and I think this is pretty clear again.
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“What I was told in the week was referees shouldn’t be finding ways to disallow tries, and I just don’t think that particular incident had any impact on the try being scored.
“It didn’t make sense to me. It doesn’t make sense to me at all. I just think we’ve got to have a smartness around what we’re doing, and that had no impact on that try being scored.
“It’s crazy really, a crazy decision, and then they get the ball, penalty, six again, try, and it completely flips the game.
“I thought that would have probably been about right for where the game was at, but it is what it is.”
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York Knights boss offers differing opinion to Wakefield Trinity ‘no try’ call
On the flip side, York boss Mark Applegarth believes that the call was correct, saying that Jowitt was at fault for being in the way.
Having been fine with another key moment – the first-half unsuccessful captain’s challenge call – the Knights boss said: “The only [call] that I would have been filthy with, if it did get given, was that try that, in my opinion, rightly so got disallowed.
“I thought if Max [Jowitt] had just surrendered himself, it would have been play on.
“I’m sure Daryl will feel a bit aggrieved with that, and I suppose it depends on who you’re coaching.”
