Rush frustrated with referee after Wakefield defeat (From St Helens Star)

St Helens coach Mike Rush frustrated with referee after Wakefield defeat

9:10am Monday 13th August 2012 in Latest News

MIKE Rush criticised referee Thierry Alibert after his side slipped to 33-32 defeat against Wakefield.

Paul Sykes slotted the crucial drop-goal that denied Saints at the death in Yorkshire.

Rush said: "With 12 mins to go we score to make it 32-32 and then we didn't cross the half way line again.

“But I'm going controversial here - he kills us. Every time we've had Thierry Alibert this year we've ended up in a game like that. It's gone tit for tat and lacks control for me.

“I appreciate I will get in trouble for that but every single time we have this fella he absolutely hammers the game.

“I'm not just saying he hammers us, I'm sure Richard Agar feels the same, but today he just killed us.

"Take nothing away from Wakefield, they were very good, have been on a good run of form and fully deserved the win because we weren't great, but I am sick of being involved with games where Thierry has games like that.

"For instance, Lee Gaskell jumps for the ball, catches it and is knocked but we don't get a penalty, we have to drop out."

"It was a fair outcome in the end. I didn't think we were great. Sometimes you can judge your team's enthusiasm and mental state on their kick chase and a good point to start is there.

“We get the ball in their in goal area and should be putting Ben Cockayne over the line... but 30 seconds later they are scoring in the far corner.

"Then Francis Meli is caught by a good chase and pinned in goal and three sets later they score a try. That was the difference today, those little things and Wakefield going out of their way to work that little bit harder than us."

Sia Soliola and Jon Wilkin both missed the game with injury – and Rush added: "We may get players back next week, I don't know at this stage, but I am more bothered about what happened today.

“If we are relying on injured players to come back and win games then we are struggling as a club.”