I've met Phil Bentham before in the Harry Poole bar @ Craven Park after a game a few years back and I thought he was a decent guy and enjoyed a good chat with him.

However, I'm really disappointed with an incident during todays game between Hull & Rovers.

Newton ran the ball in believing it to be the 4th tackle as he could not see Bentham had his hand up indicating it was the 5th.

Newton got tackled and Bentham ordered the turn-over. Newton and another Rovers' player challenged the decision on the basis they did not see Bentham have his hand up indicating it was the last tackle.

Bentham then stated he did.

The video replay then proved that Bentham did not raise his hand until Newton hit the ground when he was tackled and therefore proved Bentham lied (or had some kind of unusual imagination going on).

Now Rovers ended up winning the game comfortably so it did not influence the game and whilst I appreciate everyone makes mistakes I strongly believe this type of dishonesty should not go unpunished by the RFL.

Gets paid to do the job. Can't afford to make mistakes like this end of.

I was a little dismayed. After the handover he clearly says " I did have my hand up" The replay shows he put his hand up after Newton enters the tackle giving him no notice of the 5th tackle as his heads down and he's going into a leg drive. Granted it's the players job of knowing what tackle they are on but an indication is given usually every time.

It was a mistake so why didn't Bentham just admit to his mistake and tell Newton that he was a little late with his call and that he apologises.

can kr players not count to five?

Maybe not, but it helps if the ref can.

Thought Betham has a very good game, maybe the best this weekend, a couple of mistakes including the ones mentioned above.

They need to look at the rule about calling held to early, when the defending team pushing the player who is still moving into touch, penalty attack, the defence shouldn't get punished for good defence.

Bentham=liability

Thought Phil had a good game but then we won so I would say that!!!

The point in question did make him look a bit silly when the replay came on but I believe at Rovers it is the wingers job to keep the count and let the players inside know which tackle is coming up especially the 5th.

You are not really seeing the OP's point are you

Wow.

I'm glad you are not a friend of mine.

You say you had a drink and a social chat with Phil Bentham and that he was a 'decent guy'. I bet you were fawning all over him and all over him like a rash.

Then you go on an internet forum and accuse him of being 'dishonest' and that he should be punished by the RFL because of one small mistake.

Why stop there? Maybe he should be sacked and all his belongings sold off immediately?

In the unlikely event you actually have a job I bet you are the sort of bloke who goes for a few drinks with your work colleagues and then the following day you are straight into the bosses office saying 'Please sir.. I was out with James last night and he said he doesnt like your aftershave' or 'Please sir.. Caroline was boasting down the pub she stole a biro the other day'

You clown.

Referees are people. People make mistakes. You always hope that your mistakes are minor with no substantial consequences. This one falls into that category.

Doesn't make him a more dishonest or incompetent person than any of the rest of us.

What has that got to do with the fact that Bentham said he had raised his hand in plenty of time when he infact hadn't?

Good job he's not a brain surgeon eh? His mistake could have actually meant something. He made a mistake, the RFL will have a word wtih him and it shouldn't happen again. If it happened every week, then yes, action would have to be taken, but personally, I have never seen Mr. Bentham do that previously.