Hull KR skipper Elliot Minchella is a fan of the captain’s challenge concept but he hopes to see his Super League counterparts make better use of it in round two. Round One came to an end without a single successful appeal being made by the captains of Super League clubs.
Hull FC and Catalans Dragons saw calls prove to be inconclusive, which resulted in the referee’s on-field decision standing, but the challenges elsewhere were unsuccessful, with some sides wasting the opportunity to question the referee. Minchella saw his one appeal fall by the wayside after unsuccessfully appealing a Peta Hiku knock-on as Hull KR took on Castleford Tigers on Friday night at Craven Park.
The loose-forward still disputes whether the correct decision was made, with communication potentially an issue, but he is a believer in the concept and he’s hoping to use it wisely at Belle Vue on Thursday night.
“We’ve been getting a bit of stick, us captains. I think we need to stand up for each other,” Minchella laughed when asked about the challenge. “It’s different but I think it’s a good introduction to the game to be honest with you.
“The one with us, we challenged the decision that Peta knocked on, which for me we got right, and then he gave a knock-on on the floor. I guess it’s around the communication for us as players.
“We probably wanted a bit more clearer communication as to what we were challenging. I thought I knew what I was challenging like I’ve explained but once that decision was made for me we should have kept our challenge because we challenged Peta’s knock-on, not the incident on the floor.
“We said beforehand that it would probably have some teething issues and it’s new for the referees as well and the video refs. It’s new for them, new for us, and the captains have all taken some stick over the weekend so hopefully we can get one back this round.
“It’s a good introduction to the game and I’m sure as the season goes on that’ll improve and the captains in the league will improve our knowledge of the game because some people have written that we’re not very knowledgeable.”
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— Hull KR (@hullkrofficial) February 17, 2025
