The Rugby Football League will not be issuing a formal statement over referee Phil Bentham’s decision to disallow Danny Brough’s 78th-minute drop goal that denied the Giants a 17-16 Challenge Cup fourth-round home win over St Helens.
Although many within the rugby league world believed Brough’s shot was on target, the match official disagreed, and a minute later Luke Walsh made no mistake with his one-pointer to take Saints through in controversial fashion.
And after the RFL took the unusual step of allowing Bentham to give his side of the events over the match-defining late call, which was shown nationally on the BBC, the game’s governing body now intend to declare the matter closed.
“There are always controversial incidents in games and it’s a matter of RFL policy not to comment,” said a RFL spokesman.
“We were happy for Phil to give his side of the argument, but that’s as far as it will go.
“Like with other controversial incidents in the past, making any further statement would simply elevate this incident into an even bigger issue.”
In Bentham’s own comments over the decision he made, he revealed he had received the backing of his colleagues in the match officials’ department, while it seems clear the RFL are also standing by their man.
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