Leeds Rhinos legend slams Super League official over “shocking calls”

Last night we saw some great Super League action as Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR met in a thriller, Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves collided and Huddersfield Giants showed their class against Wakefield Trinity.

This all came on the back of a great Thursday night clash between St Helens and Catalans Dragons in what many feel is the Grand Final in waiting.

However, in many games recently there has been an added focus on the officials.

Rohan Smith spoke honestly about how he feels the game if refereed in the UK after Leeds’ defeat to Hull KR. He didn’t blame the officials nor criticise Tom Grant but rather questioned the approach officials are told to use leading to messy rucks.

Meanwhile, Willie Peters was also left feeling some calls went against his side.

On Thursday many St Helens fans were dismayed with some key calls that went against them including a potential missed penalty as Romain Navarrete seemed to strip the ball.

The week before it was Warrington fans raging at a potential forward pass against the Saints, Andy Last bemoaning a rare penalty as Castleford Tigers lost to Leigh Leopards and there was fury among Salford Red Devils fans as they lost to Leeds.

Last night as Wigan and Warrington met, six-time Super League Champion Ryan Bailey was left criticising Chris Kendall saying he makes three wrong calls a game on Twitter:

“Chris Kendall makes three wrong calls every game. Shocking calls!”

Chris Kendal makes 3 wrong calls every game shocking calls !!

— RYAN BAILEY (@BAILS168) July 14, 2023

Bailey not impressed but many did point out that it is not uncommon for a player to make three mistakes themselves in a game.

On the flipside of that, players would also be criticised if they did.

Bailey wasn’t the only one left questioning some decisions from Kendall. Phil Clarke also labelled a decision around Ben Currie in the first half as “controversial.”

In the end, as is often the case, the officials though weren’t the difference with Daryl Powell’s side sent back to the drawing board with a week off to conceive of a way to start climbing the table again after a recent poor run of form.