WAKEFIELD TRINITY head coach Daryl Powell has hit out at what he has deemed to be a “crazy” disciplinary charge handed to Max Jowitt in the aftermath of his side’s 14-12 loss to Hull KR last weekend.
Jowitt was charged with Grade B Dangerous Contact on Rovers’ Mikey Lewis and given three penalty points as well as a fine, with the Trinity number one attempting to stop Lewis from scoring a try.
That try attempt failed, with the Rovers talisman limping off the field soon after following a syndesmosis injury which has ruled Lewis out for the next few weeks.
Powell, however, confirmed he raised concerns about the charge to Paul Cullen – the head of the Match Review Panel.
“I spoke to Paul Cullen about this – I don’t know what he expected Max to do there. It’s crazy, to be honest.
“He is just trying to save a try, he had minimal seconds to try and stop him after Mikey Lewis got bumped off.
“I disagree with it. I don’t think that’s why we brought in focus on tackles around the legs. It’s not a hip-drop tackle for me.
“He is just trying to stop him scoring. I think the RFL is fining players heavily at the moment which I don’t agree with.
“I don’t understand it to be honest, I disagreed with the charge in itself – it didn’t make sense.”
Powell has no qualms about the new points-based disciplinary system as a whole, but disagrees with the increase of fines.
“I haven’t got a problem with the new system. We will see how it works throughout the season but I don’t understand the fine to Max Jowitt.
“You shouldn’t be trying to take money off players for trying their best, I don’t think that is right.
“I don’t think that charge was warranted but I didn’t challenge it because you end up getting a ban or getting more penalty points.
“It’s an open and closed case.”