“Read the room” – Pundits believe Chris Kendall decisions went against Warrington Wolves

Wigan regained the Challenge Cup on Saturday afternoon with an 18-8 victory against Warrington at Wembley Stadium.

It was a disciplined performance from the Warriors, who played all the percentages right on the big stage with Warrington’s inexperience showing.

However, the start of the game saw both teams penalised. Referee Chris Kendall showed yellow cards to both Mike Cooper and Matt Dufty in the opening three minutes of the game.

The earliest cards ever distributed in the Challenge Cup Final caused a great debate amongst the BBC pundits covering the game, but all were in agreement.

Jamie Peacock, Kevin Brown and Jon Wilkin all called out referee Chris Kendall and Video Referee Liam Moore for sending both Cooper and Dufty to the sin-bin.

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Pundits call out Chris Kendall decision

Peacock, Brown and Wilkin all believed that both high tackle incidents did not merit yellow cards, and that a simple penalty award was sufficient on both occasions.

“It was like an explosion of aggression and controversy at the start,” said Wilkin. “Two yellow cards, it was Mike Cooper first.

“Both are questionable for me. I think once the referee gave the first one, it was tit for tat. It was like he had to give the second one.

“And there was an almighty clamour for the Wigan fans at that end of the field to give the second one, but it was a wild start wasn’t it?

“You want to protect the head don’t you but at the same time, first two minutes of the Challenge Cup? I mean that isn’t taking either player’s head off?

It’s just a penalty for both isn’t it? They’ve made contact with the head, nobody wants to see it, but they are just penalties.”

Peacock added: “I think it’s called reading the room, like you’ve got to read the room in a final. They’re not yellow cards at the start of a Challenge Cup Final.”

Decisions worked against Warrington Wolves

Though both teams lost a player in the frantic first three minutes, it was arguably Warrington who never recovered after losing their fullback Dufty.

The Wolves no.1 struggled to compose himself when he came back on the field, making a number of errors. Meanwhile Wigan composed themselves to lead 12-2 at half-time after Cooper returned to the field.

Speaking on this, BBC pundit Brown believes the start of the game put Warrington off their stride and made them go away from their game plan.

“I think that emotion went against Warrington because they lost Matt Dufty, one of their best attacking players,” said Brown.

“Yes Wigan lost Mike Cooper but they can slot that quite easy, but then once Warrington got back into the game I just thought emotionally they carried on frantic.

“They were moving the ball too much and I don’t think they came out of that well. They never recovered.“