Former official says crucial Super League try was wrongly awarded

Another brilliant weekend of Super League action has passed after Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR served up a golden point thriller, Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves did battle and St Helens and Catalans Dragons met in a huge top of the table clash dubbed “the Grand Final dress rehearsal” by some.

There were also two vital games at the bottom of the league. Wakefield Trinity arrived at Huddersfield Giants on the back of two wins in a row and three wins from their last four. They were looking four a fourth win in five and three back-to-back wins but also their first away win. It would have put them level on points with Castleford Tigers in 11th but Huddersfield had too much for them.

This gave the Tigers the chance to pull four points clear against Hull FC but the Black and Whites stormed to victory in the second 40.

The action concluded with a vital game in the play-off race as Salford Red Devils hosted Leigh Leopards.

The Red Devils took the lead after a loose pass found Ken Sio who went over in the corner to make it 4-0.

Leigh meanwhile hit back as John Asiata flicked a pass out to Ed Chamberlain to score to give the Leopards the lead when Ben Reynolds converted.

Leigh soon led 10-4 when Ricky Leutele powered over despite a resurgent effort in defence from the Red Devils.

Marc Sneyd then nailed a massive 40/20 before a neat passing play put King Vuniyayawa over that levelled matters. Salford then had a try controversially disallowed before Andy Ackers gave the Red Devils the lead as he darted over to make it 16-10.

Their lead went out to 22-10 when Tim Lafai broke through and then Ben Halliwell grounded Brodie Croft’s kick.

Leigh, though with a number of players like star man Edwin Ipape rested, hit back when Lachlan Lam took Tom Amone’s offload to score.

The Leopards would then level matters after Zak Hardaker was on hand to capitalise on chaos out wide.

Ben Reynolds levelled matters with the goal. Salford had the first effort at the drop goal which sailed whilst Leigh moved forward and Salford gave away a penalty allowing Reynolds to nail a penalty goal to give Leigh the lead.

They held on to win 24-22. It is a game that underlines Leigh Leopards as title contenders and gets them ready for the semi-final next week at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Salford’s play-off spot remains in peril. However, Salford fans felt aggrieved again by some decisions namely the awarding of Ricky Leutele’s try after footage has emerged seemingly showing the centre well in touch and potentially short of the line.

Now former official Ian Smith has explained that it was wrongly awarded but a very difficult decision: “I don’t think it’s a try btw however if we are going on still pics then this one shows it’s on the line and his hand is still on the ball and that’s why it’s no use trying to make a judgement from just one still frame, a VR would have made the correct call

“It seems like he’s saying the arm was up so not on the ground outside the field of play, the refs audio will be interesting as to what the TJ says and what Ben says to the in goal judge.

“I think he is in touch btw, there is another player underneath him which adds to the difficulty of a live call.

“What an unbelievably tough decision that is without a VR. There is a still pic of when it’s short of the line, this still pic looks like it’s on the line and his hand is still on the ball, but is he in touch? That’s why sky have 9 cameras instead of one.”