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Watson demands Ganson explanation after game “ruined” by referee performance

Salford Red Devils head coach Ian Watson has demanded an explanation from Head of Match Officials Steve Ganson, after slamming the refereeing performance following his side’s 22-8 loss to Leeds on Saturday.

Salford led the game 8-6 at halftime but a gutsy comeback in the final 40 from the Rhinos saw them notch a second win of the season.

Despite the final penalty count standing at 8-8, though, the Devils’ boss expressed his annoyance with official Marcus Griffiths, who he believes made several wrong decisions that contributed to the result, including a dubious call surrounding a challenge in the air on fullback Niall Evalds that wasn’t given.

“Things that happened in the second half that are way beyond our control,” he said in the post-match press conference. “100% Niall’s in the air. His leg’s up in front of him, he’s kind of hit Gale’s shoulder with the leg and then he’s (Gale) driven over the top and landed on him from there.

“Our boys don’t blow up, and every single person made a deal out of that. You give that to any referee in Super League when it’s on Sky, 10 times out of 10 they’ll say he’s tackled him in the air.

“You can kind of recover from that if it’s a one off (decision) but then you look at the knock on in the first half where James Donaldson goes to tackle Atkin.

“For all your money it’s our head and feed at the scrum but they give it to Leeds and they come away from their try line.

“People who are in charge of the games have got to be doing it the right way and I feel the game was ruined.”

Watson then took a swipe at Head of Match Officials Steve Ganson, saying he contacted him several times last season without reply.

Watson has demanded an explanation from Head of Match Officials Steve Ganson. Credit: Richard Long/News Images

“I’d like Ganson to explain and contact us,” Watson continued. “I contacted him numerous times last year and he didn’t come back to me because we’re not Wigan and we’re not St Helens so we’re not important enough to deal with potentially.

“He should come forward and say why he’s putting people in charge of a game who can’t control it.

“It seemed to be that as soon as our crowd went berserk about the referee, the referee seemed to just wash his hands of Salford and referee the game in a totally different manner, and that’s what I’m not happy about.

“I know you get fines all the time for speaking out but if people ask you for your opinion, you should be able to give your opinion.”

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