22 Aug 2012

Hampstead stood down again

6:29 am on 22 August 2012

For the second time this season the National Rugby League has stood down Sean Hampstead following a video refereeing howler.

The experienced whistle-blower was at fault for incorrectly awarding Canterbury's Jonathan Wright a try in Friday night's 23-22 golden point victory over Wests Tigers - despite a clear obstruction in the lead-up.

NRL referees boss Bill Harrigan explained that Hampstead being stood down was simply in line with the approach that has been taken all season.

Harrigan and fellow referees boss Stuart Raper have taken a hardline approach to errors all year, dumping video referee Phil Cooley, referee Jared Maxwell and touch judge Jason Walsh for errors early in the season.

It is the second time Hampstead has been dumped this season - the first following his decision to award a controversial try to Queensland's Greg Inglis in State of Origin one.