HULL FC coach John Cartwright didn’t let delays and hold-ups during Saturday night’s victory over Catalans Dragons in Perpignan spoil his enjoyment of a surprise 24-4 win.
A series of lengthy video-referee decisions, inconclusive Captain’s Challenges and Head Injury Assessments and Green Cards added at least ten minutes to the playing time of each half and the Australian coach wasn’t impressed.
He told League Express: “I’m not a fan of the Green Card, I read about it and half-knew about it before the season started and I think it’s a tough one.
“We know what they’re trying to do with the game, I just wish blokes wouldn’t lie down.
“I felt for Aidan (Sezer, who was green-carded in the second half after a collision with defender Tariq Sims) all night because I thought he was under attack throughout the game. He got taken to the ground after every one of his kicks and I’m sure we’ll see penalties for that kind of thing in the future. I’ve just got round to getting used to it.
“Cade Cust copped a really bad one as well, I don’t think they protected the kickers well.
“But we won against the odds and not many people gave us a chance.
“I’ve got to get used to those rules. We’ll look at what happened and we’ll debrief.
“The Captain’s Challenges seemed to take a long time. In the NRL they do them really quickly, people accept the decision and the game moves on.”
The only other disappointment for Cartwright were injuries and concussions.
He added, “Jed Cartwright felt a tweak in his hamstring and we couldn’t get him off the field because he had to make a couple of tackles and I hope that hasn’t made things worse. I hope it’s a low-grade sprain but we’ll get a scan and move on from there.
“Amir Bourouh failed a head-injury assessment, so he’ll have to go through the protocols. Jack Ashworth will have to go through them as well so we’ll see what happens, I haven’t spoken to the doctor yet.
“But that apart, I’m really happy for the players and the staff, those people who have been involved in the club and have had a pretty tough time.
“We’ve got a long way to go – it’s the first of 27 rounds. But it’s nice to get it in the bank so early so I can’t be anything but pleased.
“We’ll enjoy it but on Friday we’re up next against the champions and probably the best team in the world at the moment.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge for us.”
