Former coach Ryan Carr has been punished for an abusive comment about referee Liam Rush during Castleford Tigers’ dramatic 36-34 home Super League win over Leeds Rhinos three months ago.

The RFL have fined Carr £3,000, half of it suspended until the end of the 2028 season, after his outburst was picked up on Sky Sport’s live coverage of the July 19 showdown which saw Tigers hit back from 20-4 and 30-16 down. The Australian, who was watching the Sunday afternoon game from a gantry position close to the television commentary team, was heard shouting “f****** cheat” after Tigers were denied a quick tap restart in the first half.

Carr observed the second half from pitchside and two days after the fixture the RFL said they had written to his club “asking [them] to report back with their submissions”. The Yorkshire Evening Post can now reveal the governing body have found Carr, who left Tigers the following month, in breach of operational rules D1.1(b), C2:6 and C2:10, which cover improper conduct, adherence to RFL policies and the behaviour standards expected of senior personnel.

The RFL accused Carr of “directing an abusive accusation at the referee”, but accepted the remark “wasn’t intended to be heard outside the club’s staff”.

Ryan Carr, front with arms folded, watches from pitchside during the second half of Castleford Tigers' win against Leeds Rhinos in July. Picture by Matthew Merrick/SWpix.com.

placeholder image — Ryan Carr, front with arms folded, watches from pitchside during the second half of Castleford Tigers' win against Leeds Rhinos in July. Picture by Matthew Merrick/SWpix.com.

A spokesman said: “The sanction also reflects that this was not his first breach of the operational rules during the season.” Carr’s departure from Castleford was confirmed in August, due to what the club said were “personal reasons”.

He had been absent from the club for the previous two weeks and is now back in Australia. The former Leeds Rhinos assistant-boss took charge in pre-season on a three-year contract.

Meanwhile, Workington Town and coach Jonty Gorley are in hot water over conduct towards the match doctor during and after a Championship fixture at Midlands Hurricanes in August. The club and team boss accepted their conduct towards the medic - who decided to remove Town player Tana Featherstone from the field after he was judged to have displayed category one concussion symptoms - fell below expected standards, both during the match and, in Gorley’s case, in a post-game interview.

Workington have been fined £2,000, suspended until the end of the 2028 season. Gorley’s previous suspended two-match touchline ban and £500 fine have been activated. He has received an additional £1,000 fine and four-match stadium exclusion, both suspended until the end of 2028.