Haven’t seen the game (work!!) but from reading the reports it seems we were abit scratchy, hit and miss. Wakey are a dogged side and can dig their heels in so I wasn’t expecting a blow out score to be honest. Happy for the win and it reads like we did it tough.

It felt like ideal preparation for next week IMO. If we’d gone out their and coasted to a 60 point win, it wouldn’t have done us that much good in the grand scheme of things. We came up against a side who looked that determined to put in a shift for the coach and the club that the players were really pushed and had to put full effort in. It was an enjoyable game.

Yep, I’d agree with that. Wakey did what Saints will do in that they’ll come out determined to put a shift in and will push the lads all the way, albeit Saints will be better at it.

There was a lot of discussion about about Wakefields weakened team. However look at their squad viewtopic.php?f=33&t=626243 and then look at their team last night. https://www.superleague.co.uk/match-centre/report/3364 It wasn't as weak as was made out.

There was a lot of discussion about about Wakefields weakened team. However look at their squad viewtopic.php?f=33&t=626243 and then look at their team last night. https://www.superleague.co.uk/match-centre/report/3364 It wasn't as weak as was made out.

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed last nights game, it had a bit of everything. Wakefield were good, we showed the type of resilience we had in the big games under Wane but coupled with some very good ball movement at times. Some of the criticism is harsh imo. Child though was terrible.

The Powell try is one that has consistently irked me for years. IMO he lost control of the ball, because it looks like there was a fingertip on it the try is given. We’ve seen this time and time again and a try is given every time. I think it was Barry Mac who said I don’t think this is a try but he’ll give it. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve said that over the past 4 or 5 years.

The Wakefield no try simply couldn’t be given as anything else. Anyone who claims they can, with any certainty say who knocked the ball to the ground is watching with tinted glasses or being deliberately obtuse, there’s no way the VR could go with anything other than the ref’s call.

All in all, a good game and a good win, I’m now looking forward to watching the kids on Tuesday and the semi final.

It didn't matter who the ball came off as it went backwards from a Wakefield point of view. Try all day long

It went forward off Johnstone IMO and went backwards in your opinion. I’d call that club bias mixed in with it being a touch and go call. I thought the refs on field call was fair enough and the video ref couldn’t turn that over.

I’d be more annoyed with the Powell try if I were a Wakey fan. He’s lost control of the ball but because it’s given on field, it’s not considered to be a clear enough loss of control for the video ref to go against his mates decision on the field.

Ultimately the process needs changing for me. The on field decision prejudices the video refs call and it’s never sat right with me. If you’re not sure, go to the video ref and let him decide. If it’s an absolute 50/50 the benefit goes to the attacking team.

And I'd disagree with that. His forearm and fingers on the ball carrying arm never lose contact with the ball. They're given every week. It all depends on your view of what constitutes losing control. If you're disallowing because of some arbitrary judgement call of what constitutes under control I'd suggest we'll be disallowing a lot more than we do. Some part of the hand/arm touching the ball has always been try as per Stevo's "fingertip control". Whether it should be is an entirely separate argument.

Couldn't agree more with the sending it up one way or the other though. Either make the call (right or wrong) OR send it up. Not both.

Absolutely

And as I mentioned earlier, you shouldn't have had the ball in the first place as Johnstone knocked on the set before but a dropout was given.

Control isn't part of the rule. It's downward pressure you need.

The ref should either award the try or he shouldn’t. There should be no sending it to the video ref with ‘I’ve got a try / no try’ message.
This is I feel where the captain’s challenge rule could be used, it’s the captains call if he thinks the ref is wrong in his decision. Give two captains challenges per team but these should only be used in the action of scoring a try and not for knock on/ obstruction to the lead up, this area should still be controlled by the official