BRAD ARTHUR railed against the “soft penalty” which decided Friday’s Super League semi-final – but George Williams countered any suggestion he dived to win it.
Warrington Wolves edged Arthur’s Leeds 14-12 with the only points of the second half scored from the tee by Ewan Irwin after James McDonnell was judged to have deliberately blocked off Williams chasing a kick.
“I don’t want James McDonnell wearing the brunt of this because he did nothing wrong,” said coach Arthur.
“If you watch the angle on camera, his eyes are on the ball the whole way, he’s running back, he doesn’t initiate contact.
“There were four of those on Ned McCormack, and I don’t want a penalty for those because they’re just jostling to get back and do their job.
“The fact the ref (Chris Kendall) took so long to decide whether it was a penalty or not tells you he wasn’t sure.”
Opposing coach Sam Burgess sympathised to some degree and said a similar call went against his side in the previous week’s eliminator win over Hull KR.
However he added: “Some of it is soft, but when you slow it down, by the letter of the law it is a penalty.”
And Warrington skipper Williams was in no doubt, explaining: “I was running towards the ball. It wasn’t a massive touch, but when you’re running at speed and you get a little nudge, you’re off-balance.
“I’m just competing for the ball and I get knocked over. I’m not diving or anything like that. It’s part and parcel of the game.”
For Leeds, it was a cruel way to end the season, after they led the league standings for much of it.
“I’ve not whinged or complained the whole time I’ve been here,” said Arthur, who suffered an injury crisis at the worst possible time with Ash Handley (bulging disc), Maika Sivo (shoulder), Jack Bird (hamstring) and Chris Hankinson (foot) joining Lachlan Miller (hamstring) out.
“I’m extremely proud of our team. The last two weeks have been really disjointed. I’m extremely proud of the effort.
“I’m not sure what more we really could have done. We got a few bits and pieces wrong here and there, but so did they.
“It would have been nice if the game was decided by an individual or team piece of skill instead of a soft penalty to decide such a big game.
“We can sit here and feel sorry for ourselves but I’m just proud of the boys – they kept believing and showed plenty of character.
“If we are going to lose, that’s the way we need to lose, with a bit of character and dignity. But I don’t want to take credit from Warrington either because they played well and they will think they also deserved to win.”