Lolesi bemused by Amor dismissal

St Helens’ caretaker coach Jamahl Lolesi hit out at the officials after his team were reduced to 12 men just 12 minutes into Friday’s derby game at Wigan.

Wigan made the most of Kyle Amor’s red card as they defeated Saints 29-18 to end a run of four matches without a win.

Amor was dismissed for a high tackle on winger Liam Marshall and Lolesi believes it was the wrong decision.

“It just wasn’t a red card,” he said. “Ben Thaler (referee) didn’t lose us the game – he didn’t miss the tackles or pass the balls – but what I thought was really poor was that the video ref is there to make calls on foul play.

“When you are an official, take the emotion out of it, take the crowd out of it and make the right decision, especially in a derby game.

“I just don’t understand why you don’t do that. I can’t figure it out. What’s most important is making the right decision, whether it’s a red or whether it’s a yellow, make the right one. Today it was the wrong one.

“We didn’t get lots of other calls throughout the game. I didn’t think the officiating was great and I thought it affected what was going to be a great game.

“I feel sorry for the fans that paid to come and watch a 13 v 13 derby – they got short-changed as well as us.”