Wane asks refs: Go easy on the whistle

Warrington coach Tony Smith moaned about the interruptions made by Robert Hicks in Friday’s thriller against Wigan.

Smith used his post-match press conference to say both sides were on the end of harsh penalty decisions.

Warriors won the game 35-28 to send the race for the league leaders’ shield to the final day, between Hull FC and Warrington, while Wane’s men need a victory against Catalans to secure second-spot in the ladder.

With so much at stake, he echoed Smith’s remarks and says he hopes the games from here on in are policed less stringently.

He said: “Going back through Friday’s game, some of the calls we had going against us - and some that Warrington had against them - were just uncalled for.

“We don’t want to see that, and spectators don’t want to see it.

“We need to make it more an arm wrestle so the teams are going at each other, getting fatigued and the fittest and most skilled team will win.

“What was the penalty count against Warrington? 12-11? That was never a 23-penalty game.

“And the consequence of some of those penalties is huge, especially coming out of yardage.

“I saw what Tony said after the game, and he was spot on.

“We got penalties we didn’t deserve... or if they were penalties, there were 50 in the game.”