“I’m not sure what you’re allowed to say” – Leeds Rhinos boss questions officiating

Leeds Rhinos defeated Leigh Leopards on Friday night and speaking after the game, Head Coach Rohan Smith spoke about how delighted he was.

This was no surprise given the fact the Rhinos were able to turn things around from 16-0 down to winning 22-16.

On the official Leeds Rhinos YouTube channel, Smith said: “I think we all look too much at the scoreboard and not just the battle. There is a reason it is an 80 minute game.

“I thought Leigh Leopards attacked really well and they got rewards for it but in general I don’t think there were too many moments when they got the better of us.

“We spoke at halftime about being a bit more direct and tackling a bit harder and we did that in the second half. The physical battle clearly went our way in the second half and we were hard to stop from that point.

“I thought we did enough to win the game.”

Leeds Rhinos boss slams officiating

Despite the win, the Leeds Rhinos boss made it clear he wasn’t impressed with the way the sport is being officiated at present.

He said: “If you had the option of playing against 12 or 13, you would pick 12. That is another week where teams are intentionally slowing us down and holding down and the referees have no choice I just think they drift in and out of applying the new ruck interpretations.

“There is a clear difference from referee to referee. You almost have to game plan for that. That’s fine as long as it’s consistent.”

On top of this, he said about Justin Sangare’s sin binning: “The sin bin we suffered at the back end there, that made the back end of the game an even bigger struggle against a great attacking team and that is just bordering on, I’m not sure what you’re allowed to say.

“That’s a big, fast, footwork front rower taking the ball into the line and he doesn’t get hit, he gets contacted. That is not a late hit and the game could have shifted from there.

“Everyone is always screaming for a yellow card, every single incident. That’s what we have created for ourselves. If we want to play 12 aside, then change the rules. We will lose the loose-forward and let’s play 12 aside. Everyone is just yelling for it.

“That was a good game of footy that and it was nearly spoilt. I’m just confused. As a coach you are going into a game and hoping. That’s all we’re doing, we’re hoping.”