Exclusive: Hull KR furious after ‘distraught’ Ganson’s new gaffe

It seems an absurd suggestion that more than one person should be needed to look at a television screen to ensure a decision is correct. However, after Steve Ganson unfathomably got a simple ruling wrong to gift Hull FC a late winning try in Saturday’s Magic Weekend derby, rugby league is in real danger of being embarrassed.

Fuming Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell labelled it the “single worst decision in the last 10 years of rugby league” and, in a strongly worded statement, alleged “incompetence, serious weaknesses and under performance” in the RFL’s match officials department.

Ganson duly apologised to him and the club but was, understandably, stood down from video referee duty for last night’s final game in Manchester between Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors.

Head of match officials Jon Sharp later revealed that the 43-year-old – who only retired from officiating games to become the RFL’s officials coach last month – had tracked the wrong man in a vital review of Chris Green’s offside try.

While Rovers accepted “distraught” Ganson’s apology, Dobson told the Yorkshire Post: “It doesn’t change the fact we’re not going to get those two points after we played so well and put in so much effort.

“It is real disappointing that such an experienced referee can come up with such a blunder.

“You don’t mind copping errors from a ref during a game when he has a split-second to make a decision. But when you have ample time to view it, all those replays too, and 99 per cent of the people in the ground know immediately it’s no try, for that one person to then get it wrong is just very bad for the game.

“I think you need two people in there, someone to give a second opinion, and I’d rather have an ex-player giving his perspective.

“When it’s so blatantly wrong it is not a good look for the game of rugby league.”

When asked if Ganson – who had to apologise after being caught up in controversy at the first Magic Weekend in 2007 – should stand down from his current position, Dobson added: “It was a really bad decision. But it’s up to the RFL to decide if they need to make changes.”

Hudgell demanded further explanation after the governing body initially only released a brief statement admitting Ganson’s mistake on Saturday in which Sharp said: “Honesty and accountability are important to the Match Officials Department and we can only apologise for the error.”

The former Huddersfield Giants coach and Hull FC player did offer more yesterday, but it remains to be seen if it will satisfy the East Yorkshire club.

“To use Steve’s word, and this is not verbatim, ‘I tracked the wrong player’,” said Sharp.

“Steve had picked out a particular player and tracked him, thought he was onside, but ultimately the player was in front of the one he’d tracked.

“After that there was no going back and Steve is beating himself up. He’s down in the dumps.

“When Steve came in (Saturday) he said ‘I’ve made a mistake, I got the call wrong’.

“He explained his rationale and was honest. He was distraught for the department, the game and himself.

“There are consequences as we expect high standards. We decided as a department that Steve should be taken out of the (Leeds) game. In the future we’re not saying Steve won’t be a video referee again, but he doesn’t need that pressure right now.”

More on Hudgell’s statement and match report: Page 7.