LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur and Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess both criticized the refereeing following their Super League match, which saw Warrington emerge victorious.
The controversial final moments of the game, including a sin binning for a high tackle and a disputed scrum decision, left Arthur questioning the officials' understanding of the rules.
Arthur highlighted the incident involving Keenan Palasia's high shot, stating, "I've seen plenty of those already five rounds in, so maybe as a coach I'll need to complain more and whinge about the referee." He emphasized the need for clarity in crucial moments, stating that referees "need to be much clearer on knowing the letter of the law." Additionally, Arthur pointed out a misunderstanding regarding scrum rules, as referee Tom Grant ruled that Leeds had not packed down with the correct number of players.
Arthur clarified that when a team is down to 12 players, only five are required to pack into the scrum, indicating a lack of knowledge on the officials' part.
Overall, Arthur's comments underscore the importance of referees understanding and enforcing the rules properly, particularly in game-defining situations.