Former official slams the behaviour of Super League coach

Leigh Leopards are fighting with Wigan Warriors and St Helens for a spot inside the top two.

This is because it comes with a home semi-final in the Super League play-offs.

However, their hopes of making the top two were hurt by defeat to league leaders Catalans Dragons on Saturday.

It was a game laced with ill discipline in the first half and some major moments had Adrian Lam and Chris Chester unimpressed when stronger punishments weren’t handed out.

This though did not impress former official Ian Smith who believes complaints like this is only making the situation more difficult for officials.

He said on social media:

“We don’t know what we want to be. Lam & Chester screaming and waving their arms after a late push, fans demanding cards for innocuous high tacklers, players running in at any sign of foul play, then we all moan the game has gone soft, refs don’t know if they are Arthur or Martha.”

In terms of the game, a late hit from Mike McMeeken and a yellow card saw Leigh nail an early penalty to make it 2-0.

Then, after a Sam Tomkins blunder, an inside ball from John Asiata allowed Tom Amone to tear through and score. He rounded the cover defence for a great try.

Catalans Dragons definitely needed to score next and they came up with a response after Zak Hardaker gave away a penalty. Mitchell Pearce stabbed a kick behind and touched down himself to score.

The Dragons were now on top and stormed 12-8 ahead with a try from Paul Seguier. A great set play from the Dragons with attacking players doubling up on defenders allowing Seguier to carve through.

But then another yellow card for Catalans, this time to Michael McIlorum, paved the way for Leigh to score with Ben Nakubuwai burrowing over from the penalty allowing Ben Reynolds to nail a penalty and make it 14-12.

Then a mess at the back nearly led to a try for Wigan Warriors bound Adam Keighran after a ball bounced off a defender but he was unable to ground the loose ball.

But shortly after Catalans took the lead again when Hull KR bound Tyrone May kicked behind for Tom Davies to score.

May was in the mood in the second half as he dummied, bounced off Ben Reynolds and carved inside wrong footing Ben Nakubuwai who was missing his boot.

The match was settled with another try for the Leopards as Manu Ma’u grounded another kick.