Paul Anderson hit with RFL fine for criticising referee

Anderson anticipated the punishment after accusing referee Joe Cobb of succumbing to pressure from Wigan after his side went down 26-19 to the Warriors at the DW Stadium last month.

He claimed Cobb changed the way he refereed the game after being approached by Wigan's acting captain John Bateman at half-time about the ruck speed.

"I'd like an explanation of what changed the official's mind at half-time to want to referee the game differently," Anderson said in the post-match press conference.

"I know there was a request at half-time for the ruck to be sped up, hence I think it was a 7-1 penalty count against us in the second half when both teams were as scruffy as each other and two sin-binnings on the back of that.

"I know what will happen, I'll get a fine and they'll say every decision was right.

"What's happened there is the official's succumbed to pressure. "

Anderson has been duly fined £500 and warned as to his future conduct after being found to have breached RFL operational rules. Half the fine is suspended until the end of the 2017 season and will become payable should he be convicted of a similar breach.

Anderson has 14 days in which to submit an appeal.