Chris Kendall emerges as Super League’s best official

There are some huge games this week as Leeds Rhinos and Warrington Wolves collide, Wigan Warriors and Hull FC meet in a game with play-off ramifications for both and Challenge Cup winners Leigh Leopards host league leaders Catalans Dragons but the biggest game is Wakefield Trinity vs Castleford Tigers.

Whoever loses will be bottom of the league and favourites to drop down to the Championship in 2024.

Both clubs are currently level on points so this game could be do or die for both and determine either club’s future.

Chris Kendall is the man in charge of the game showing that right now he is viewed as the top official in the league.

He was put in charge of the Challenge Cup Final last week and has now been given charge of the relegation Grand Final.

This comes after Paul Rowley branded him and Liam Moore the best two referees:

“It’s so hard. If we’d have won the game, I’d come in and say probably exactly the same thing. I thought the officials were a disgrace. I think Jack, I’ve watched him on telly, he’s been a disgrace a few times this year, one for us at Warrington at home. So three games in a row now we’ve been absolutely let down.

“So clearly Kendall and Liam Moore are the best two refs who get all the cup finals, we don’t get them too much so we must be deemed poor quality games.

“It’s kind of gloves off, I’m usually quite measured and take my time I don’t like to criticise because we’ve lost obviously, but again, I’d have said the same thing in victory.

“Games are very much decided by officials quite often and the obvious response to that will be, ‘they don’t miss a tackle’, ‘they don’t do a forward pass’, and no they don’t, but they don’t get batted 25 times a game either so a lot of it is just visual.”

In terms of the other referee appointments, Jack Smith is the video referee for the game between Wakefield and Castleford whilst he takes charge of the other Sky game on Saturday between Leigh and Catalans with Ben Thaler the video referee.

Thaler is in charge of Leeds vs Warrington whilst Challenge Cup Final video referee Liam Moore is in charge at Huddersfield.

His brother is in charge of the game between Wigan and Hull FC whilst Tom Grant is the man in charge between Saints and Hull KR.