“I assume we don’t employ blind officials” – Paul Rowley slams two key decisions

As many fans watched the action between Leeds Rhinos and Leigh Leopards on Sky Sports at Headingley, the game of the day, perhaps round unfolded at the AJ Bell in front of 6,500 fans between Salford Red Devils and St Helens.

The Saints battled back from 15-2 down to win 18-15 despite a great performance from the Red Devils which perhaps deserved a win.

After the game Paul Rowley questioned the officials branding Jack Smith “a disgrace.”

This came as he questioned Matty Lees’ try. When asked about it on Red Devils’ TV he said:

“It’s quite interesting because we had a try off a Tim Lafai big hit the other week which they got wrong. That one was more wrong, so no we’ve not had any reasoning because you know you can’t really talk to officials, you’re not really allowed to.”

That being said, he did reveal a conversation with the boss of the officials:

“I had a good chat and a good a good discussion with officials, boss Dave Elliott the other week. He mentioned Jack Smith and how he likes the character of each referee. Jack Smith takes a big prominent stride forward when he’s marking his 10th. Have you seen that? I said this is where grey areas are for me. Do you go back 10 metres, do you go back to the ref or do you go back to where he’s going to step forward to?

“The game is hard enough, but Dave was under the impressive that if we did the stats then we’d find he had given the least offsides. When we did the stats, he’d give the most. So, quite interesting. I think, I don’t know if it’s confidence.

“When you speak to people within the game, within the officiating department, off the record, they quite openly tell you that it’s a mess and there’s nothing coming through. Well it’s a mess because the games are getting decided by officiating and we see one decision given one week and the same pictures the week after given in a different way.

“I’m lost to it all and I feel sorry for the players and I feel sorry for the fans as it must be an element of frustration for him. I’ll go home, I’m an ignorance is bliss sort of guy, I don’t read any social media so you speak your mind you get battered obviously like Wello did when he spoke his mind about the Asiata tackles, he got battered on the back of it so I’m told.

“But ignorance is bliss, I’ve said my piece, I think I’m a fair man. I think I’m usually pretty cool about how I deliver my messages and again I’m not red in the face or seething, I’m just stating facts.”

He also questioned the Tee Ritson try:

“Well, it’s a bright coloured boot and he’s right there. I mean come on answers on a postcard, you’re doing the interview for me and I really appreciate it. You’re saying it and others journalist there are agreeing to it, but I’m meant to keep my mouth shut. The word for that is incompetent.

“I mean I’ve not got the best of eyes myself but I was 60 foot up in the air and I could see it so I’m assuming we don’t employ blind touches.”