Just re-watched the game, the Phil Bentham injury was a shocker. You could actually hear his ankle snap on his microphone.



Poor guy was in absolute agony, wishing him a full and speedy recovery.

Refs get a lot of stick but I wouldn't wish that on any of them, hope he makes a speedy recovery and is back reffing soon.

Was right in front of us, was obvious it was serious right away, he looked in a lot of pain.

Don't think you heard the ankle snap actually. You heard the smack of the collision, same as you often hear the smack as bodies collide, but the break happened a moment later, as he landed awkwardly - caught his studs in the turf and twisted by the look of it.

confirmed on the commentary that it was a badly broken leg (tibia).........get well soon Phil

I cannot do with Bentham, and as a Wigan supporter there was the fairly recent episode where we never won when he was officiating.

Having said all that, refs do a job that we take for granted.

We owe the refs more than they receive.

Hope he makes a quick recovery.

Having to put up with idiots like Hicks for too long just won't do.

Heard it snap from where I was sat. Horrible.

He was your best player too untill the injury



Seriously though, it looked a painfull one, it was a weird sight seeing a ref getting carried off like that.

When refs get caught by players (we have seen it) there is often a bit of a laugh and a sarcastic cheer. That is understandable.

some of the behaviour around me last night, i found quite disgusting actually.
it was clear as day within seconds that a man was in serious pain. yet the scream of laughter and various shouts at him where way, way OOT imo.

Didn't think we had so many idiots at Wigan. Sadly last night proved me wrong.
as i say, its sometimes understandable on initial collision but as soon as its clear someone is in some trouble, i expect it to stop.

Eddie and Stevo thought it was probably a sprained ankle at first lol, tbf without seeing a replay for quite a while it was hard to see exactly how bad it was.

sorry but no.
we were sat 3/4 way up in the SS and within seconds of the players allerting the medical teams (and thus US noticing it) you could tell he was in some pain.
an initial laugh was just about understandable for me.

the continued hilarious laughter and jibing for MINUTES afterwards was OOT for me.

just my opinion, mind.

Tbh with the penalty count racking up against us I thought Sandercock had got his sniper rifle out.
All clubs have that small minority mate, we just have to live with it.

I don't think you could hear his ankle crack. It was just the impact picked up on the mic.

Yep. Just didn't like how many was sat around me last night. B'reet

I have to say that nobody at all where I was sitting took that attitude and I was very near to the dreaded Brigantes. Sounds like you were just in with a bad bunch.

Nobody around me was laughing either, all I heard was a massive sign of respect as for the first time ever the ref got applauded off the field

Listen to it on the replay, you hear two cracks. First one is the impact the other as he is falling over milli-seconds later.

Hope Phil Bentham recovers quickly. As much as we all like to criticise referees we wouldnt have a game without them and very few of us would actually like to do their job.

Looked nasty, hope he makes a quick recovery. Hicks taking his place long term wouldn't do anyone any good.

Very true, by the end of the match the people around me could be heard saying "Hope Bentham comes back soon."

He's been made full time video ref for the time he is out. 6 - 8 weeks for the break to heal and then the time to get fit. (Wish FM)

Fair play guys. Glad for you.
I was dead central. Glad it wasn't as widespread as I'd feared from my experience.
I was bloody close to telling a lot of folk a few truths.

I think being a Bolton fan and laying witness to Fab's collapse a few weeks ago I'm a little more sensitive to such incidents. Not that there's much wrong with being more aware and sensitive, mind.

Just want to wish Phil Bentham all the best for a speedy recovery. We all go mad at the refs from time to time but no one wants so see that. You could hear he was in a lot of pain via his microphone. Get well soon Phil.

Agree.