Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell has confirmed he’s been contacted by the RFL after his comments last week regarding the referee.
Trinity fell to a 16-10 defeat away at the MKM Stadium against Hull FC in what was the Black and Whites’ first home win of the year.
It was a game of poor quality with both sides struggling but it was also a game of two halves with Wakefield leading 10-0 at the half, albeit having played poorly, before ultimately losing 16-10.
Speaking post-match, Daryl Powell made reference to the referee as he suggested that the actions and words of Hull FC head coach John Cartwright had influenced James Vella.
“Two contrasting halves really,” explained Powell post-match, adding: “The decision making from the referee completely flipped from one side to the other, a couple of reasons for that I believe.”
Expanding on that, he said: “There was an influence of the referee and I just thought the game completely flipped, I’ve seen an influence on the referee in the tunnel after the first half. I’ve done that in the past, it just shouldn’t work and I think it worked, he completely flipped his decision making.”
Powell would further add that there were “some words in the tunnel” but noted that Cartwright had “not been aggressive to anybody” but was “saying some words in ear shot”.
Wakefield Trinity boss ‘completely disagrees’ as RFL open investigation
Cartwright would hit back in his presser and the RFL quickly followed suit, confirming to Serious About Rugby League that an investigation would be opened and Powell has now had his say.
Speaking to the media ahead of his side’s game agaianst Huddersfield Giants, Powell was asked if there had been any repercussions and he confirmed there had.
The Wakefield boss revealed: “I’ve got to put some submissions in for what was said, which I just completely disagree with. We’ll wait and see.”
As for when it happened, he added: “That was just yesterday, so I’ll send something back to the RFL today and then take it from there.”
Previously, we have seen examples of head coaches and even Sporting Directors punished by the RFL with both Matt Peet and Ian Blease previously reprimanded.
Both men had been charged with actions relating to the referees, Blease having engaged with them in the tunnel as Powell suggested Cartwright did, whilst Peet was reprimanded for entering their dressing room without inviation.
