SAINTS FURY AT AMOR RED

Lolesi rounds on officials after Kyle card proved crucial in derby dust-up

Wigan 29 St Helens 18 ST HELENS caretaker coach Jamahl Lolesi blasted Kyle Amor’s early red card after his 12-man side eventually succumbed to Wigan.

Prop Amor (below) was dismissed by referee Ben Thaler for a 13thminute high tackle on Wigan winger Liam Marshall.

But replays showed the initial contact was around the chest area and Lolesi, in joint charge for the first time since Keiron Cunningham’s sacking, hit out at the decision.

Lolesi said: “It just wasn’t a red card – it’s pretty much as simple as that.

“Ben Thaler didn’t lose us the game – he didn’t miss tackles or pass the balls – but what I thought was really poor was that the video ref is there to make calls on foul play.

“When you are an official, take the emotion out of it, take the crowd out of it and make the right decision, especially in a derby game,

“I just don’t understand why you don’t do that, what’s most important is making the right decision.

“Today it was the wrong one. I feel sorry for the fans that paid to see a 13 v 13 derby game and didn’t get that – they got short-changed today as well as us.”

Opposite number Shaun Wane said: “I cannot win with that one. It’s a tough one – they’ve missed a few over the last few weeks.

“I’d rather not comment on that. I just want to get the two points. A lot of credit needs to go to St Helens for the way they played.”

Wane highlighted the performances of Liam Farrell and George Williams, the latter of whom celebrated his new long-term contract at the club with a controlling performance.

The pair were part of a dominant lefthand Wigan attack that scored all five of their tries – two each to Joe Burgess and Marshall and another to Farrell.

Three of those came in a crucial seven-minute spell just after the hour that took the game away from Saints, who had only trailed 15-12.

They had tries to Morgan Knowles, Tom Makinson and youngster Regan Grace, who had an eye-catching debut on the left wing.

Lolesi added: “He was fantastic, and a credit to the club’s junior system. You won’t see many better debuts by an outside-back at St Helens.”