Veteran Referee Kendall Rested After Successful Challenge Cup Final
Last weekend, experienced Super League referee Chris Kendall took charge of the highly anticipated men’s Challenge Cup final at Wembley. In the opening minutes of the match, Kendall made two crucial decisions, issuing yellow cards to Wigan Warriors’ Mike Cooper and Warrington Wolves’ Matt Dufty for high tackles. Aside from these two incidents, the final progressed largely without controversy, with Wigan emerging victorious and lifting the trophy for the 21st time.
However, when the Rugby Football League (RFL) announced the referee appointments for this weekend’s Super League fixtures, Kendall’s name was notably absent. Instead, he will serve as the video referee for the Castleford Tigers versus Wigan Warriors match, while Ben Thaler takes the on-field duties. The other games will be officiated by Aaron Moore, Tom Grant, Liam Moore, Jack Smith, and James Vella.
“Kendall’s performance in the Challenge Cup final was excellent, and he handled the high-pressure occasion well. However, due to the emotional nature of the event, the RFL has decided to give Kendall a break this weekend, allowing him to return to the middle for the Super League’s round 15 fixtures.”
In the aftermath of the Challenge Cup final, the RFL’s Match Review Panel determined that neither Dufty’s nor Cooper’s tackles warranted further punishment. As a result, both players will be available for their respective teams’ fixtures this Friday, as Wigan travel to face Castleford and Warrington host Salford Red Devils.
🔗 Source
