Steve McNamara comments prompt RFL ‘investigation’ after Challenge Cup semi-final

Catalans Dragons boss Steve McNamara’s comments following Saturday’s Challenge Cup semi-final are being looked into by the RFL.

Catalans were beaten 36-12 by Hull KR at the LNER Community Stadium in York in front of a crowd of more than 8,000 fans. The overwhelming majority of those supporters were Rovers fans, who made the short trip from east Hull to York to cheer Willie Peters’ side onto Wembley and in truth, the Robins were comfortable winners.

McNamara had no issues with the result and when he sat down in the front of the press on Saturday night he insisted KR were by far the better side. However, he then launched himself into an angry tirade about the officiating on the day, claiming his side were not awarded a single penalty or a six again, barring one kick out on the full, by referee Chris Kendall.

He called it ‘nearly impossible’ before adding he was ‘p—– off’ with the one-sided penalty count in front of what was a passionate and loud Rovers crowd. McNamara also went onto provide stats on the way Hull KR home games have been refereed this season and question James Batchelor’s second try in the contest.

RFL make contact with Catalans Dragons boss

The Catalans boss insisted he wouldn’t be taking the matter further but the RFL have reached out to ask him to explain his words in York last weekend, with head of match officials Phil Bentham insisting an ‘investigation’ has been opened on the comments.

Bentham made it clear that the RFL have reviewed the way the game was refereed and they have spoken to Catalans, but McNamara’s comments are being looked at.

“There’s an investigation currently underway so I can’t make comment on it,” Bentham responded in a meeting with journalists when asked for his thoughts on McNamara’s comments. “Other than to say we have fed back to Catalans as a club in terms of the referee review,”

Speaking after the semi-final loss, McNamara said: “Hull KR were the best team and deserved to win. But how on earth you can go 80 minutes and not receive one penalty – other than one when they kicked out on the full – or one six-again, that’s nearly impossible in this game.

“It was a semi-final on a neutral venue – the game is attritional and momentum can swing very quickly on the back of decisions and calls. I will watch the semi-final tomorrow and see if it is whatever to zero in the penalty count then as well, because that’s not acceptable.

“We clearly were second-best, but there were periods in that game where, if we could have earned a few penalties and been able to get a bit of field position, potentially the energy could have swung from that.”