As injury tolls continue to rise at clubs, Steve McNamara has joined the list of Super League coaches calling for assistance from the game’s leading officials.
Castleford’s Daryl Powell described the decision to take a substitution off the Tigers against Hull, after being forced to draft in a player outside the 21-man squad, as “a sham”, while Hull KR’s Tony Smith has called for an extra player on the bench following the increasing number of concussion injuries.
Now McNamara, whose Catalans side went top of Super League by winning 36-30 at Leigh on Saturday, has asked for assistance from the authorities, explaining: “It’s a real struggle at the moment and if the governing body decided to give a little bit of help to the clubs and the players, that would be really appreciated.
“If not we’ll just have to roll up our sleeves up and get on with it.”
Catalans had to cope with last-minute withdrawals and the loss of captain Ben Garcia in the opening minutes of the Leigh clash due to a groin problem.
McNamara added: “Gil Dudson copped a knee injury in the Wigan game and couldn’t recover in time, Sam Kasiano didn’t make it at the last minute and Joel (Tomkins) is suspended.
“One of our other props, Jordan Dezaria, got injured playing for the Reserves, so Lambert Belmas and Paul Seguier were called in just a week after injuries.
“To then lose Ben Garcia right at the start obviously put extra pressure on us.
“Matt Whitley is nearly ready now; he’s got some more scans on Monday and hopefully that should tick him off and allow him to play again.
“He’s done plenty of training and if the specialist clears him he will be straight back into the playing group.”
McNamara was presented with the Super League coach of the month award for May on the pitch at Leigh.
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