Pearson keen for officials to answer

He used his programme notes yesterday to vent his dismay following the controversial ending to the club’s Magic Weekend loss against Hull KR.

Referee Steve Ganson missed a blatant forward pass which furnished Michael Dobson with a try that helped fierce rivals Rovers secure a famous comeback.

But Pearson is bemused that there has been no course of action following the official’s error.

“(Coach) Peter (Gentle) and all his players were tremendously disappointed with the outcome of the match and are refusing to point the finger of blame at anyone other than themselves having lost a 14-point deficit with just 10 minutes to play,” he wrote.

“However, for everyone else in the ground, it was obvious that one decision ultimately cost us the match.

“If ever there was another case to review our match official system then this week has to be it.

“Within seven days we found ourselves in a position where Richard Whiting cops a relatively soft suspension and misses the derby, the only player out of seven Super League matches to be cited, yet just a few days later there is no public apology or explanation for one of the most glaring refereeing errors we have seen all season.”

Pearson believes such mistakes took the gloss off what had been an otherwise positive experience in Manchester.

The Black and Whites owner continued: “Magic Weekend is supposed to be a showpiece for our sport, a spectacle for our fans and our chance to position ourselves nationally in a football saturated world.

“We were halfway to achieving that at the weekend, yet, such a decision simply only detracts from the occasion.

“As administrators of the game, we have to hold our hands up to mistakes from time to time, players and coaches must do the same – so perhaps it is about time referees had to as well.

“It wasn’t the first time we have seen such an error and it won’t be the last but whilst we appreciate that it is part and parcel of the sport, all we ask is for some accountability.

“Thierry Alibert was recently suspended for an error in a match, should the example at the weekend be any different?”