Unhappy Potter sends ref decision dossier to RFL (From St Helens Star)

Unhappy Potter sends ref decision dossier to RFL

9:43am Thursday 11th March 2010

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MICK Potter has sent a dossier to the RFL disputing a series of decisions he says went against Saints during their agonising defeat at Hull KR.

The Saints coach was incensed by the performance of the match official Ian Smith, suggesting high tackles and slowing down tactics at the play-the-ball went unpunished in a game his side lost 28-24.

He was also aggrieved by three penalties awarded to the Humbersiders in the closing ten minutes, which contributed to the unbearable pressure before Saints’ line was breached.

Potter, who is rarely outspoken, implied referees should be held accountable by the sport’s governing body.

He told the Star: “I thought my players performed well and defended as well as they possibly could.

“As for the performance of the referee, well Daniel Anderson (former Saints coach) had a few things to say about him (in the past) and I would agree with him.

“I have sent a big dossier to the RFL setting out my concerns. There were tackles around the head, six-second play the balls, allowing players a second grab (after the tackle was complete), players offside, players not square at marker…and the referee was doing absolutely nothing about it.

“But he manages to penalise us three times in the last three minutes. It was pretty hard to take.”

The RFL refused to comment on the correspondence between Potter and RFL match officials director Stuart Cummings.

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