BRADFORD coach James Lowes has launched an extraordinary attack on referee Richard Silverwood and the Rugby Football league’s new promotion and relegation system after the Bulls failed to win a return to Super League,
During TV coverage of Wakefield’s 24-16 win in the so-called Million Pound Game to decide the final place in the top flight for 2016, Lowes launched the tirade after being asked his reaction to the defeat. He called the entire event “an embarrassment”.
“I’m devastated for two reasons,” he told Sky Sports. “Firsty, we shouldn’t have been in this situation.
“I know I’m going to get in trouble but I’m absolutely sick of it. This shouldn’t be how it happens in our game. It’s a disgrace.
“And to lose a game on two major refereeing decisions of this magnitude, it’s unacceptable. We’ve lost the game for that.
“A two-man steal on the ball there and in the first half we’ve had a try disallowed for no apparent reason. These are major refereeing decisions in a major game which we shouldn’t be in anyway because it’s an embarrassment to our sport, this game,”
The new system involves two divisions splitting into three, and then the fourth and fifth teams in the middle division playing off for a spot in the top flight next season.
Lowes said: “There’s nothing to gain out of it so why are we putting ourselves in this position? Why are we putting these boys under so much pressure when we don’t need to do that.
“I’m just sick of it, you know? I’m sick of all this occasion today.”
Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix
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