Hudgell wants RFL explanation over referees
Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell has called for an explanation from the RFL following the controversial decision that saw them lose to Hull at the Magic Weekend on Saturday.
Video referee Steve Ganson failed to spot that Hull forward Chris Green was in an offside position when scoring the match-winning try, which ultimately saw the Airlie Birds win the game 22-16.
Hudgell has called it the single worst decision in rugby league in the last decade.
In a statement, he said: “I am a pragmatist, it’s gone now. We can’t get the result back. We have to take it on the chin, give credit to FC for sticking in, and respond in the right way. I know that come the middle of the week this will all be consigned to history and we will sit and look at the table and see ourselves sitting outside the top eight. It is up to us to show resolve and not let this ruin our season.
“At the same time though, I owe it to the fans, players and coach to ask for the RFL to issue a proper explanation for what has to be the single worst decision in the last 10 years of rugby league.
“I have a group of players who are distraught that their efforts have not had the reward which they deserved. I have supporters who have again turned up in their numbers at great expense and who feel cheated, and a coach fighting for a new deal whose livelihood could stand or fall on these decisions.
“The amount of money and resource ploughed into the officials’ department entitles us to expect better and more consistently correct decisions.
“In my opinion, we are no further on in improving the standard of refereeing than we were at the inaugural Magic Weekend when there was the Leeds versus Bradford fiasco, and the reason for that, in no small part, is down to the ‘respect campaign’.
“Legitimate criticism and debate is suppressed by a zealous desire to cover over incompetence, serious weaknesses and under performance. Every week someone, somewhere feels aggrieved, and it’s us this week. I have zero confidence that will change any time soon.”
Hudgell added that he had received a call from Ganson, who recently hung up his boots to take an off-field refereeing role at Red Hall, to apologise, and the RFL issued a statement on Saturday night admitting the error.