Referees department admit error in Leeds Rhinos defeat as officials named for Super League round 9

Rhinos trailed by two points with three minutes left when Giants’ Adam Clune raced away to score from inside his own half. There appeared to be a Huddersfield knock-on before the ball reached Clune, but referee Chris Kendall awarded the try without consulting his video assistant Marcus Griffiths.

If a knock-on had been given, Leeds would have had the ball deep in Giants territory with six tackles to score a winning try. An RFL spokesman said the match officials’ new boss Phil Bentham admitted to Rhinos the morning after the game it was a “mistake” not to send the decision to the video referee.

Kendall, who is one of the sport’s most experienced referees, is without a game in Betfred Super League round nine, but has not been dropped. The RFL said he was granted leave this weekend earlier in the year, before last Friday’s match.

Rookie top-flight official Liam Rush will take charge of Rhinos for the first time when they visit Hull FC on Sunday, with Jack Smith on video duty. Rush became a full-time referee in 2021, aged 21 and took charge of his first Super League game last month.

Other appointments are: St Helens v Huddersfield Giants - Liam Moore (video ref Ben Thaler); Castleford Tigers v London Broncos - Jack Smith (video Marcus Griffiths); Hull KR v Wigan Warriors - Tom Grant (video Liam Moore); Leigh Leopards v Catalans Dragons - Aaron Moore (video James Vella); Salford Red Devils v Warrington Wolves - James Vella (video Tom Grant).