Furious St Helens call for more video refs at all games after Huddersfield defeat

Mar 25 2008 by Ian Laybourn, Liverpool Daily Post

FURIOUS St Helens coach Daniel Anderson called for the introduction of video referees at non-televised Super League matches after his side’s surprise 28-26 defeat at Huddersfield.

Referee Ian Smith also came in for severe criticism from Anderson, who complained in particular about the validity of Huddersfield centre Paul Whatuira’s try on the stroke of half-time – which brought the home side to within four points.

The score came after the hooter had sounded and followed a kick from Giants captain Chris Thorman that rebounded in the Saints in-goal area.

“The in-goal touchjudge ruled no try,” said Anderson.

“Huddersfield were brave, but I thought we were ‘done’ on a number of occasions.

“The RFL has got to invest in technology, because the try before half-time was absolutely diabolical. It was the biggest ‘play’ of the game.

“I want to get a clock that actually reads 40 and the hooter goes at 40 – and they should invest in video refs, because I would love to have seen a stack of those tries today.”

On Smith, Anderson added: “We’ve had him for four out of eight games, and I’ve had my dose of him.

“I wonder if he’s up to this standard. I’m bemused by his performance in general. He’s not had a TV match – which shows something. We didn’t get a single call of the 50-50s today.”

Saints picked up from where they left off against Wigan, with a blistering start in which tries from captain Paul Wellens and Chris Flannery helped them into a 14-0 lead inside 17 minutes.

But they looked a tired team in the second half, and Anderson will need to pick up his side quickly for the visit of Leeds on Friday.

“We defended nowhere near the level required,” added the coach.

“We allowed some extremely soft tries.

“Darrell Griffin’s try early in the second half was typical of how we’ve played this year.

“We do very well until late in the tackle count, and he strolls through three players. It was a difficult afternoon for us.”

Griffin, returning from a one-match ban, scored Huddersfield’s first try on 24 minutes and trebled his tally for the club early in the second half with another close-range effort.

James Roby’s 50th-minute try restored Saints’ lead. But winger Rod Jensen went over for Huddersfield’s fifth try 12 minutes later, and they hung on for an exciting win which ended a run of three straight defeats.

“I was really pleased with the response I asked for,” said Giants coach Jon Sharp.

“I don’t think we’ve been far off in the last few weeks. The issue I had was discipline – but today I thought we smartened our act up.

“Our four new faces were brilliant – especially young Michael Lawrence, who is only 17. The importance of fresh people over the Easter period cannot be over-estimated.

“I knew that, if we were just one score away from them by half-time, we would be in with a chance. I thought the bench today was the difference between the two teams. We had some quality in there. I thought we wore them down.”

* Huddersfield Giants 28, St Helens 26