Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell has confirmed that the RFL are investigating his comments after last week’s defeat to Hull FC. Powell claimed that Hull boss John Cartwright had influenced the referee with comments made to his players about penalty counts in the tunnel at half-time – and all in earshot of match referee James Vella.
Powell said in his post-match press conference last Thursday night: “I didn’t like what happened at half-time in the tunnel. He (Cartwright) has influenced things there, saying what the penalty count was.
“John was saying some words in earshot (of the referee). He wasn’t being aggressive. Listen, I’ve done it in the past. But it shouldn’t work. I think it has, and the game’s completely flipped on its head. But Hull deserved the win.”
Hull went on to turn a 10-0 half-time deficit into a 16-10 victory with a strong second half performance and favourable penalty count behind them. But while Powell confirmed that Hull ‘deserved’ the win, his comments are now being investigated by the RFL, with the Trinity head coach having to put in some ‘submissions’ to the governing body as they review what was said.
“I’ve got to put some submissions in for what was said, which I just completely disagree with,” Powell said. “We’ll wait and see. I will send something back to the RFL today and then take it from there.”
Meanwhile, Cartwright said in his post-match press conference when told about Powell’s comments: “He is one to talk, isn’t he? I commented on that (the lack of penalties), but I didn’t influence the referee. I didn’t talk to the referee at all. I did not say a word at all.
“That’s a different story (if something was overheard). But I didn’t talk to the referee. We didn’t get anything to go our way in the first half. We didn’t get a penalty or a six again.
“I was questioning our players about fighting in the ruck as they were walking in the tunnel. But you’ve all asked me about referees before, and I’ve just refrained from commenting on them. When we’ve lost, people have asked me about referees, and I’ve not commented, so I’ll leave it at that.”
Hull’s win took them back into the Super League play-off positions with exactly two-thirds of the season played. They currently hold sixth spot going into the final nine rounds and head to Wigan Warriors this Saturday afternoon. Wakefield make the short journey to Huddersfield Giants.