‘It’s a red card’ Jon Wilkin offers clear and immediate reaction to St Helens send off
Jon Wilkin has no doubt that Marc Percival’s challenge on Jack Ormondroyd was a red card. The St Helens centre was dismissed for a shoulder contact to the Salford forwards head, with the Red Devils securing a famous win with a 24-20 victory on Friday night.
Getting off the line, Percival’s hit was deemed dangerous and forceful, with referee Tom Grant having no choice but to send the Saints star off. The incident happened in the 43rd minute.
Wilkin, meanwhile, was supportive of the red card call. Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “He hits him in the head. It’s an aggressive force of contact on the head. It’s a red card under modern rules.
“It’s not like Fa’amanu Brown, which was an accidental contact with the head. Percival has made an aggressive read, so he has to get it right. He doesn’t wrap his arm, and it’s shoulder contact with the head.”
St Helens led 14-6 at half-time after tries for Jack Welsby, Lewis Dodd, and Percival, who also kicked one of his three attempts at goal. Deon Cross went over for the Red Devils.
Dodd added a second try after the red card to make the score 20-6. However, Salford, who were good value all game, then kicked off their comeback. Nene Macdonald reduced the deficit before Chris Atkin darted over. Cross then got the winner in the 75th minute, with Marc Sneyd kicking all four goals in another Player of the Match display.
Speaking after full-time, Wilkin added: "Percival doesn't wrap. There's contact from the shoulder to the head. It looked bad. It was bad. It was red. And that changed everything."