AFTER their defeat at the hands of Hull FC, Wakefield Trinty head coach Daryl Powell said he wasn’t impressed with the antics of his opposite number John Cartwright at half-time, accusing him of ‘referee influencing’.
Powell said: “There were a few things in this game and the worst second-half performance I have seen since I have been at the club. It was a real scrappy game.
“But obviously, we dominated in the first half. The second half I don’t know what happened to us to be honest with you, they played better.
“The decision making from the referee completely flipped from one side to another. I’ve seen an influence on the referee (James Vella) in the tunnel, which I’ve done in the past.
“It just shouldn’t work. I think it worked, and I thought he completely flipped his decision-making and some of the penalties. I copped the Hull KR game (which Wakefield lost two weeks previously) but I am not copping his one.
“There were too many errors, there were too many penalties we gave away. It was 8-0 in the second half and I don’t think it was anywhere near that.
“We are three points ahead (of Hull) if we win tonight but the table is irrelevant at the moment. I don’t think that it’s got any bearing at all but I don’t think we can play like that and expect to win a Super League game.”
Cartwright himself was glad to have got the home hoodoo off his back and was in praise of two of his senior players in getting this win.
He said: “We have broken the twelve-month hoodoo (their last win was almost a year ago against Wigan) but we have talked about the process and delivered it.
“We didn’t play well but I am proud to be involved in this great performance and the effort tonight was unbelievable.
“Zak (Hardaker) and Aidan (Sezer) spoke at half-time about being brave and we were. Our defending has been good for the past six weeks and we’ve shown resolve.
“We had injuries and were running short on interchanges, leaving players on for longer periods. Wakefield are a good side and throw a lot at you. While you are winning a game there is character as play-off places need to be earned.”