LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
In a recent Super League match, Wakefield coach Daryl Powell accused Hull FC's John Cartwright of influencing referee James Vella following Wakefield's 16-10 loss despite leading 10-0 at halftime.
According to reports, Wakefield dominated the first half but struggled after the break, allowing Hull to score three tries in a short span, securing their first home victory in nearly a year.
Despite attributing the loss to his team's poor second-half performance, Powell expressed concern that Cartwright may have swayed the referee's decisions, particularly regarding the penalty count, which was 8-0 in the second half.
Powell remarked, "I didn't like what happened at half-time with the referee, the influence of walking up and down saying how much the penalty count is." He conceded that while Hull deserved to win based on their second-half display, he found the nature of the match unprecedented, suggesting that Cartwright's actions contributed to a significant shift in the game's momentum.
Powell added, "I think influencing like that is not great...
I've done it in the past, but I don't think it should work.
It's worked and the game's completely flipped on its head."
In response, Cartwright dismissed Powell's accusations, implying that such comments were hypocritical coming from Powell himself.
The exchange underscores the competitive tensions and strategic maneuvers coaches may engage in during high-stakes matches.