The RFL have issued a statement about a contentious moment in Leeds Rhinos’ Super League play-off loss to St Helens, with an admission made that the decision to award Jon Bennison’s try was incorrect.
Bennison scored with five minutes to go as his try made it a one score game, pulling St Helens back within two points to 14-12.
Whilst controversial at the time, it looked largely irrelevant with the hooter going dead at that scoreline, however, Leeds had conceded a penalty meaning St Helens had one last roll of the dice, albeit 60 metres out.
Their kick to touch got them 30 metres closer but they still had plenty to do but a 16-pass play that saw the ball kept alive for 45 seconds resulted in a now iconic ‘Left to Wright’ try, securing St Helens a famous win.
It also condemned Leeds Rhinos to a devastating loss that was only possible due to Jon Bennison’s try, a try that the RFL have now conceded may have been incorrectly awarded.
St Helens try should not have stood versus Leeds Rhinos, confirm RFL
The try in question was not awarded on field by referee Jack Smith who seemed to have the best view in the house, stood approximately one metre away and crouched down to view whether the ball touched the line or not.
Bennison had broken in from his right flank and was in the process of being tackled by Lachie Miller and Mikolaj Oledzki when he reached his arm out to ground.
Smith ruled no try but called for video referee Chris Kendall to look and whilst certain camera angles appeared to show the ball touching the line, others did not.
The RFL have now released a short statement on the situation.
It read: “In conversations with Leeds, Phil Bentham (RFL head of referees) has confirmed that while the decision to allow the try was consistent with replays viewed before making the decision, viewing another angle would have changed that position.”
In essence, had Chris Kendall been presented with further camera angles then he would have seen enough evidence to confirm that Jack Smith had not made a clear error and therefore should not be overturned.
The on-field ruling should have been upheld and St Helens would have remained eight points down with five minutes to play, effectively giving them no chance of winning.
It’s of no consolation to Leeds Rhinos who will arguably be even more heartbroken at the loss whilst St Helens will count themselves lucky. As for the referees and the RFL, it spells a clear need for change in how the video referee system works.
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Brisbane Tiger
September 30, 2025 at 12:34 am
Absolutely appalling video ref decision, how come the camera view that proved it was not a try was only shown after video ref had awarded the try? Was the view hidden from the video ref so as to sway his decision? Lets face it the howler at the Cas V Wigan match and the Leeds V Saints match makes the video ref and the RFL look not fit for purpose.
I wouldn’t be surprised if HKR get duded this weekend to create a Wigan Saints GF. Fingers crossed it’s HKR V Leigh.
Peter
September 30, 2025 at 6:32 am
There’s no reason why there can’t be cameras mounted on the goal posts that point straight out on the try line either side. They can be at different heights to avoid players getting in the way. Surely a similar system can be employed from both touchlines also.
Gordon vale
September 30, 2025 at 9:39 am
why didn’t Chris Kendall look at all angles? there has to be a reason, now that reason may be because of time constraints or something else but it is clear now it was the wrong decision and we have (in many peoples eyes) an undeserving team advancing. i am not one of them whats done is done but the system needs changing whether that’s a second person looking as well as the video ref, onfield referees standing by his try or no try decisions or something else. Video referees were brought in to remove human error in important decision making well it appears it failed totaly as human error has wrongly overturned a correct no try critically altering the the result in a play off game.
would Chris Kendall have looked at all angles if this was the closing minuets of a tight grand final the answer is definatly yes so why not in this case Mr Kendall?