WHAT’S the point in the video referee if a decision as important as one that determines a team’s Wembley fate is made wrong!

Don’t get me wrong – Hull KR deserved Saturday’s win and if their day in the sun on August 29 proves as successful in the long-run as was Warrington’s in 2009 then awaking a sleeping giant is great for the game.

But that does not take away the fact the video referee made an incorrect call in allowing Shaun Lunt’s try to stand five minutes from time, effectively sealing Rovers’ first appearance in the final since 1986.

The RFL laws clearly state – in the instances when a player is deemed held – a player should be considered tackled when he is lying on the ground and an opponent already grounded places a hand on him.

Daryl Clark may have slipped off the loan hooker from Huddersfield but a prone Sam Wilde, on his full debut, certainly got his hand on the arm of Lunt while his ball-carrying arm was grounded.

The proof is in these screen grabs:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

Warrington Guardian:

You can study the incident yourself, frame by frame using the pause button, by clicking on the following link: Shaun Lunt's try

 

It’s the latest in a number of video referee howlers on big occasions and it just rubs salt into the wounds of a third successful semi-final performance that let down the Warrington supporters. The Wire were well-below par against Leeds last year and Hull in 2013 too.

Also glaringly obvious on Saturday – and I highlighted the point a few weeks ago – Wolves are not strong enough in the front row over 80 minutes.

I accept Ben Harrison was lost to injury during the game – and other possible prop options contracted beyond 2015 George King, Ben Evans and Ben Westwood were not available – but another experienced hand with some fierce factor looks needed to me.

While Paul Wood left the squad just before the season started, Roy Asotasi does not have terms with the club next year and sadly, despite his standing in the game being hard-earned and warranted for past glories, the veteran’s time on the field here just hasn’t worked out.

When you’re restricted by salary cap, Wolves clearly need more than the 15 minutes they got out of him when strike props Chris Hill and Ashton Sims were taking a breather at Headingley.

Simon Moran said in last week’s Warrington Guardian that at least one more signing should be coming in, and chief executive Roger Draper suggested in this week’s Chris Sandow press conference there will be a couple.

I hope the current talent search in the NRL is for a prop and that the mission is successful or I fear the necessary grunt up front could be missing for future big games too with the likes of Leeds, St Helens and Catalans looking strong in that area.