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.

Pretty certain I was Tomkins put a hand on his shoulder. Surprised the Stains and Leeds fans aren't calling for a lengthy ban.




Not nice to see anyone in that much pain, get well soon.

Agree, hope you have a full and speedy recovery Phil.

Tomkins looked like he was telling him to keep still, showed his class in number of ways. 2nd try was quality and had time to assist a ref in distress.

Looked really nasty at the time, and I still haven't got round to watching it on TV.

I can only echo the sentiments of others and wish Mr Bentham a full and speedy recovery.

I can also confirm that around us (middle/middle of South Stand), there was no pïss-taking after the first few seconds, when we all thought he'd just been knocked over.

RE Hicks: I do think it's a little bit unfair on him, he's not used to being in charge, only to advice the man in charge from the touchline. How many times have any of us seen something from a distance and yelled "are you flipfloping blind" then missed the very same thing when we're up close?

Yes, I think Hicks did a (un)fair few bad calls.... but he was never prepared for the task of being in charge for this game.

That said... I sometimes thought his shirt could just as well been a spare KR shirt they just happened to have brought with them.....

Its just a shame it took Bentham getting injured for me to realise how good a ref he is because Hicks is an absolute muppet. After seeing how bad Hicks was i think i will be laying off our top level referees as they are doing a very tough job pretty well if he is anything to go by.

Get well soon Phil.