‘There’s got to be something done’ – Sam Burgess speaks out on latest Super League controversy

Warrington Wolves boss Sam Burgess has given his take on the controversy that marred Wigan Warriors’ clash with  Hull KR on Friday night. Last week Burgess could be heard slamming the theatrics and play acting that has kept into the game after seeing Paul Vaughan shown a red card in the Wolves’ loss to Leigh Leopards.

The incident wasn’t picked up by the official at the time but after Owen Trout stayed down, the video referee reviewed the tackle and decided a dismissal was suitable. Vaughan was then handed a three-match ban by the RFL’s match review panel, much to Warrington’s frustration.

However, talk of play-acting cropped up once more on Friday night with Jai Whitbread being shown a yellow card for a high tackle on Tyler Dupree after the Wigan man stayed down. The incident has been questioned by KR boss Willie Peters and Sky Sports pundits since and Sam Burgess has offered his view.

“I think the yellow card last night with Jai Whitbread was fair enough, it was a shoulder to the head and it was very similar to the red card we received the week before,” he said while speaking to Sky Sports. “I’m not sure that anything has changed during the week but what brings it to the attention of the referee is the player staying down.

“I’m not saying that’s coached but there’s got to be something done. The player stayed on the field after he was injured. I think that’s what needs to stop. If you can’t carry on that’s great, go off for an assessment.

“I thought Willie Peters summed it perfectly, much better than I did the week before.”

In response to Brian Carney, who put it to Burgess that the right decision was eventually being reached, he said: “I appreciate that and we’re in a tough period. Those three people (the video referee, the match review panel and an independent tribunal) agreed it was a red card, well the incident last night was exactly the same.

“They said there was mitigation after a ricochet off another player, it’s the same with Paul Vaughan and Trout last week. It’s the framework from last night great but it’s changed from the week before. That’s the frustration.”

Burgess was speaking before his side’s contest with St Helens, which featured two more cases of action being taken following stoppages of play, with Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Matty Lees being shown yellow cards after video referee reviews. Neither Tee Ritson nor Josh Drinkwater left the field for a head injury assessment following the incidents.