There were some big calls made on Friday night as Leeds Rhinos beat St Helens but Saints fans may focus on one that took place in the 75th minute.
At 24-all, Saints forced a drop out and Sam Walters hit Matty Lees with a thunderous challenge.
Jack Welsby then started a pushing match feeling that the tackle was illegal and replays suggested it could have been a shoulder charge.
That was the view of Jon Wilkin on Sky Sports after initially believing the tackle to be fair.
He said:
“You can’t do that. That is a shoulder charge. I apologise to Jack Welsby, that is a shoulder charge.
“That is a step too far, he will be lucky to still be on the field. At first I thought he had wrapped the arm but it was Cameron Smith who had done that.
“When Matty Lees is coming at you like that, you have to wrap your arm around.”
Everyone was preparing for Tommy Makinson to have a shot at goal till Chris Kendall ruled that it wasn’t a shoulder charge, giving Leeds a penalty for Welsby’s involvement in a crucial moment that helped turn the game.
Barrie McDermott then said: “I think he has got that wrong, for me it is a shoulder charge.”
Before Wilkin described it as a shocking decision: “That is a shocker. That’s not a shoulder charge? I called it from up here that it looked like a fair challenge so I get it, but having seen it a few times are you tell me it is not a shoulder charge?
“Saints will be fuming with that decision.”
Now former Super League official Richard Silverwood has had his say on the decision.
He believed it was indeed a shoulder charge and believed that Walters should have been penalised.
He said on Twitter: “Some win for Leeds. Massive call against Saints. Thought it was a shoulder charge.”
He also praised Jarrod O’Connor at nine believing him to be better than Kruise Leeming who came on for five minutes before suffering a nasty injury.
Some win for Leeds.
Massive call against Saints. Thought it was a shoulder charge.
O'Connor better than Leeming.
— Richard Silverwood (@SilversRef) March 3, 2023
