The decision not to sent St Helens forward George Delaney off against Wakefield Trinity has been questioned by one of the sport’s leading voices.
Just after the half hour mark when St Helens were leading 20-0, Delaney was sent to the sin bin by referee Liam Moore for a high shot on Wakefield winger Lachlan Walmsley.
Under the cosh, Wakefield were carrying the ball out from deep in their own territory once again when Delaney’s shoulder made contact with the Scottish international’s head in a very robust tackle which had fans awaiting the decision of the referee.
Moore brought captain Jonny Lomax over along with Delaney and explained that there was mitigation regarding ‘high level force’, something that Sky Sports’ commentator Mark Wilson would question.
The explanation from Moore was: “George approaches the tackle and he is off his feet where he makes contact, he does make contact shoulder to head. There is mitigation and it doesn’t meet the threshold for high level force, so that’s what saves you from it being a red and brings it down to a sin bin.”
St Helens sin bin questioned
Reacting to that, Wilson was having none of it as he asked: “Can someone explain to me how a player off his feet with direct shoulder contact to the head (isn’t sent off)? What is the mitigation there? There is no mitigation.
“George Delaney is the luckiest man in this ground, how is that only a yellow card?”
Pundit Jon Wells agreed, adding: “We could watch that another 20 times and I’d still come to the same decision. I thought he was in trouble and that he was gone for the evening.
“There is no mitigation. Walmsley is upright and doesn’t dip into contact. He (Delaney) comes in with a high degree of force off his feet. Wow.”
Wilson would go in again, questioning the use of the word ‘mitigation’, having clearly felt that there was not a lack of high level force, which was the official reason that Moore gave.
The commentator said: “That is a dangerous word, mitigation, without saying what the mitigation is. What is it? I think George Delaney has got away with one there.”
Earlier in the game, Wakefield’s Oliver Pratt had been sent to the sin bin for a professional foul when pulling back Harry Robertson. He returned shortly after Delaney’s sin bin with the St Helens forward set to return to the field just after the half-time break, with the score currently 20-4 to the Red Vee.
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