Woolf highlights spoiling tactics and ‘harsh’ red card in Castleford defeat

Kristian Woolf’s St Helens side were second best for large parts of their 20-10 defeat to Castleford.

However, the Saints boss feels something needs to be done about time-wasting amidst a number of stoppages in the last ten minutes which helped the Tigers’ defensive line reset.

“I’ve said this before, it’s something we’ve got to look at,” Woolf said.

“You can’t stop the game for three or four minutes and then get back up and play – it’s quite obviously being exploited, it has been a number of times.

“When there’s fatigue in the game and we’re in an attacking position, if you are going to stop the game there needs to be something in place where you leave the field and get treated.

“That is the rule in the NRL for the same reason – I’ve made that point a number of times and it’s becoming too regular.”

Woolf was, however, keen to stress that his side just weren’t at the races, even if he did feel the red card to Tommy Makinson for a late, dangerous shot on Niall Evalds was harsh on first seeing.

“Losses are always disappointing, we obviously just didn’t play to our standards and what we have been the last few weeks.

“We put too much pressure on ourselves with poor little errors in contact and penalties – we need to clear our discipline up which is something we need to be better at.

“We gave ourselves a real chance with 11 men at one stage and then finish with 12, and if we get that last play right we score in the corner, but unfortunately they ended up scoring and that was the game.

“I’d like to have another look at it, I’m not going to sit and here complain about it.

“I felt it was harsh at the time but I need to have a look another look.”