Sam Burgess was annoyed by the circumstances which led to Warrington Wolves being charged an interchange prior to their 24-6 win over Hull FC in the Betfred Super League on Friday.
The Wolves were reduced to seven interchanges for the match after Adam Holroyd was named on the interchange bench but not in the 21-man squad list which was sent to the RFL earlier in the week.
Burgess, who was involved in a post-match tunnel spat with Black and Whites director of rugby Richie Myler as well, was incensed by the decision as Holroyd had been in the 21 publicly released by Warrington on Wednesday and protested them losing an interchange was a failure of player welfare.
- Friday’s Betfred Super League reports and highlights
- Super League table | Listen to The Bench podcast
- Stream Super League and more on NOW
“I don’t know, it was poor management from someone,” Burgess told Sky Sports. “We named a 21-man squad, it’s on our social media and it’s public, so we’ve got to get it right.
“We talk about concussion and protecting our players, well tonight you’ve failed. Someone needs to be held accountable for that.
Trending
- Transfer Centre LIVE! Calafiori, De Ligt, Zirkzee latest
- England player ratings: Foden back to his best as Mainoo shines again
- Papers: Olmo’s £50m release clause expires on Monday
- Rate the players as England reach Euro 2024 final!
- Southgate: Another final is my best achievement
- Man Utd transfers: Van de Beek bids farewell ahead of Girona move
- Southgate vindicated as England make history
- Newcastle co-owners Staveley and Ghodoussi to leave club
- Liverpool transfers: Reds close on 15-year-old wonderkid Ngumoha
- Arsenal transfers: Bentley bid rejected as Lazio agree Tavares deal
- Watch
- Latest News
“We had a choice to make before the game and we didn’t make the right choice for the players. If it had been the other way round, I’d have made the right choice for the player regardless.
“We’re living in that world now, so let’s all get on board. Otherwise, what are we doing?”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Under rugby league’s Squad Declaration System, amended ahead of the 2020 season, if a player who is not included in the 21-man squad named at Noon two days before a fixture is subsequently named in the matchday squad then their team lose one of their eight interchanges.
Burgess claimed it was a complaint from Hull FC over Holroyd’s inclusion in Warrington’s matchday squad which resulted in the match commissioner applying the rule which saw them docked an interchange.
“My 21 got sent in earlier in the week,” Burgess said in his post-match press conference. “Everyone got it except the RFL, so Hull complained, and I lost a sub pre-game.
“It’s just not good enough. There was a mess up, but I don’t know what we are trying to do.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
“We have got all these protocols around player safety but when anyone gets the chance to get one up on the other team – where is the common sense in that?”
Burgess and Myler were later shown in a short but heated exchange in the tunnel following the game, which Warrington won on the back of a hat-trick of tries from Josh Thewlis.
“It is a very small corridor,” Burgess said of the incident in his post-match press conference. “He made some smart comment as I was walking past. He really doesn’t need to do that.
“I get he is new in the job – so am I. But the game is done, it’s done now. Let’s move on.”
Watch every Super League match in 2024 live on Sky Sports and stream with NOW.
Ad content | Stream Sky Sports on NOW
Stream Sky Sports live with no contract on a Month or Day membership on NOW. Instant access to live action from the Premier League and EFL, plus darts, cricket, tennis, golf and so much more.