“It’s not the game I loved” – Richard Silverwood gives his take on Luke Gale red card

Yesterday, St Helens again put the league on notice with just about the most perfect performance a team can muster in sleet and snow.

The Champions ploughed through Hull FC down the middle routinely despite being away from home but showed some touches of class to score some superb tries. Lewis Dodd’s solo effort was particularly note worthy as were the tries scored by Jack Welsby and Sione Mata’utia.

They helped the Saints onto a second win from two games for the Champions but they were also helped along by a red card.

On his home debut, Hull FC’s new skipper Luke Gale was given his marching orders when he tried to block Johnny Lomax’s kick but went in on Lomax with his studs showing.

It was somewhat divisive with most agreeing that it was indeed reckless but many felt the red was too harsh. One man who who shares that opinion is former Super League referee Richard Silverwood.

The Englishman officiated over 300 games in Super League and took charge of three Grand Finals in 2010, 2012 and 2013. He last officiated over five years ago in 2016.

After the game yesterday, he took to Twitter to voice his disappointment with the decision to send Gale off: “Just watched Hull game back as missed earlier. Wow. Game is distant from what remember. Gale is a penalty in my day. Not sure on RFL instructions to Referees now. Its not the game I loved. Boring.”

Just watched Hull game back as missed earlier. Wow. Game is distant from what remember. Gale is a penalty in my day. Not sure on RFL instructions to Referees now. Its not the game I loved. Boring.

— Richard Silverwood (@SilversRef) February 20, 2022

Gale’s sending off clearly had a big impact on Hull’s efforts with it exacerbating things following Jake Connor’s red and suspension last week against Wakefield. Gale will likely miss Hull’s next game against Salford but at least Connor will be back.

Hull’s start to the season is perhaps the best example of what Silverwood could be getting at; there seems to be more cards shown this year than ever with three reds shown in Round One and this red along with plenty of yellows shown in Round Two.