“Madness” – Sky Sports pundit shocked by decision in Super League cash

The Super League derbies kept coming on Saturday after terrific games from West Yorkshire, Hull and the North West over Thursday and Friday. The action kept coming with two play-off hopefuls meeting as Salford Red Devils hosted Leigh Leopards.

Salford were enjoying an impressive start to the season responding to a Round One defeat to Leeds Rhinos with wins over Castleford Tigers, Hull KR and even St Helens but have lost their last two losing to Wigan Warriors and Hull KR the latter in the Challenge Cup.

Leigh on the other hand have won the last two shaking off their tough start to the defeat with wins over Hull FC and progression in the Challenge Cup.

It was a special day for Ryan Brierley on his 300th appearance but he got no special treatment. He was held back early on resulting in a yellow card for Lachlan Lam and a penalty that Marc Sneyd turned into a 2-0 lead.

Brierley was then on hand to dummy over after quick hands and a quick ruck as Salford’s attack impressed.

Leigh did hit back with another try for Umyla Hanley in this terrific run of form. That made it 8-4. But Brierley kept on celebrating his big day taking the ball on the inside to score a lovely try to make it 14-4. The tries kept coming and Salford extended their lead further. Ethan Ryan scored in the corner after good work from Marc Sneyd and Tim Lafai.

Just before the break though Ryan Brierley was sin binned for the same offence that saw Lam sent off for 10 minutes and Leigh used the moment to trim the deficit with a penalty making it 20-6 at halftime.

Despite starting the second half down a man, Salford scored first with Marc Sneyd finding his way to the line to make it 26-6.

Leigh gave themselves hope as a lovely move sent Ed Chamberlain through a gap and he turned the ball inside for Lachlan Lam to score.

The comeback kept on rolling when a massive cut out pass from Matt Moylan found Hanley for a second.

However, the game was settled by a second try for Ethan Ryan but Hanley would score one more try after he took a lovely kick to score his second hat-trick in two weeks.

Sky pundit questions Super League decision

It was a game full of controversial decisions handled well by new Super League official James Vella. However, speaking on Sky Sports Barrie McDermott said that he felt like Salford Red Devils had “the rub of the green” against their Super League rivals.

That being said, he felt like there was one decision that went against the Salford Red Devils when Joe Mellor chipped over Gareth O’Brien and the two collided.

There was no action taken against O’Brien and McDermott said on commentary: “He’s waved on has the referee. That’s madness!”

He added: “I believe he steps into him and I believe there might even be a shoulder charge in there too at least a penalty. It’s a chip and chase and that can’t be anything but a penalty and it could have even been a bit more.”