Jon Wilkin’s surprising take on potential penalty try

As Leigh Leopards won the Challenge Cup Final against Hull KR in a great decider at Wembley, there was more than a bit of controversy.

One of the major areas of discussion centred around a potential penalty try for Tom Opacic.

He nearly capitalised on a Tom Briscoe error to score but was tripped up by Lachlan Lam as the eventual match winner dived at the ball.

It was deemed accidental and no penalty try or indeed penalty was given.

This was something Jon Wilkin was surprised at. He felt it was a professional foul but not a penalty try.

“I think it was a professional foul. It’s not a penalty try. It should be a yellow card,” Wilkin said on BBC.

“It has never been more of a professional foul, he’s tackled him.

“When you consider the yellow card that was given, to not show a yellow card for that is confusing.”

All told, it was a great game as Hull KR struck first. Elliot Minchella gave away that penalty but immediately made amends as he broke through and found Jez Litten in support to score.

A Tom Briscoe error nearly led to a Tom Opacic try as the ball was kicked ahead. Opacic was then tripped up by Lachlan Lam who went for the ball but it was deemed an accident and no penalty try was given.

Leigh then said anything you can do we can do better as Kai O’Donnell broke through in similar fashion finding Lachlan Lam in support to score.

Minchella’s strange day kept going as he was penalised for a hit on Ben Reynolds and the Leopards took a 10-6 lead as Hull KR went down to 12 men.

Hull KR then nailed a penalty of their own on the stroke of halftime to make it 10-8.

The second half started as the first one ended with a Hull KR penalty as Hull KR drew level at 10-all.

It was then a very tense second half as neither side gave each other an inch. Try scoring sensation Josh Charnley had a chance when he got the ball wide but was held up.

Tom Briscoe scores tries at Wembley like it’s his backyard. Today was his eighth Challenge Cup Final try in his fifth final appearance and his eighth in the last four. He struck a decisive blow in the corner for the Leopards after a sweeping move.

But that try was cancelled out when Parcell touched down to score in the 79th minute after a kick bounced off Zak Hardaker.

However, in the end it was Leigh who will lift the Challenge Cup after a golden point drop goal from Lachlan Lam won the game for the club.