Former official claims Super League star should have been banned

Last weekend the first Challenge Cup Final without Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and St Helens since 1986 between Leigh Leopards and Hull KR was the focus but there was also a big game between St Helens and Huddersfield Giants.

It was a fiery affair with Matty English sin binned in the first half and before he returned to the field teammate Joe Greenwood was sent off.

Both incidents divided opinion. There could be no disputing the elbow from Greenwood but coach Ian Watson highlighted the tackle leading up to the incident suggesting St Helens started it.

Meanwhile, he felt Matty English’s cannon ball tackle which saw him yellow carded was an accident.

However, former official Ian Smith wasn’t quite so forgiving saying that the tackle deserved a charge.

It didn’t with English only cautioned.

Smith said on social media: “It definitely deserved a charge in my honest opinion.

“It looked a clear sin bin from that footage. On non tv games make sure, if you are going to do foul play, do it on the opposite side to the tunnel and in the corners, then the camera wont pick it up…that’s a joke by the way…”

Ian Watson said of the incident after the game on BBC Radio Leeds:

“From the way I saw it the man was held up, Matty’s gone to go in and then the legs, he’s moved his legs backwards, Matty’s got to have more control going in there for me and he’s gone in quite quick but he’s lost his legs as he’s kind of going in so he can’t control that.

“I know from knowing Matty it’s not malicious, but do I think it was a sending off, I don’t think it’s a sending off but it’s which way they kind of determined that.

“For me Matty should have kept his feet a little bit longer and weighed up the tackle before going in but he’s trying to get in quick to take a big man down, so he’s made an error of judgment on that but we’ll see what they come back for.

“I’m hoping they don’t come back for anything because I think as he’s kind of gone in he’s moved his legs back on the back end of that but we’ll see.