https://twitter.com/garethwalker/status ... 01/photo/1

https://twitter.com/garethwalker/status ... 01/photo/1

That’s a pathetic and bizarre statement. From the “we should be treated better cos we won the league leaders again but can’t win a final” guff.

To the patronising “we were really poor and Wire were as good as they possibly could be” nonsense.

To describing what Wire and Hicks did as a publicity stunt and questioning his impartiality.

To patronisingly only using Hicks surname whilst using full names for his teams players.

To saying it was a clear try. It wasn’t clear. Not in real time it wasn’t. The point isn’t that the on-field ref didn’t give it as a try, it’s that he didn’t go to the video ref.

The entirety of that statement is insulting and unnecessary. If that was my club’s CEO/Chairman I’d be embarrassed.

You missed death threat described as a 'pathetic spat'

Brian carney is a ledge just made his thoughts known on the article live on TV!!

He and his fellow elite clubs can train and pay for their own officials,and the other rugby league clubs can have their referees back and follow the Respect and Enjoy the Game protocols.

I await learning of this from Mr Elstone.

He could also request the Mr Hicks doesn't referee St Helens again - if he doesn't wish to pay for,and train,the elite league officials.

The sour ramblings of a sore loser. He should be in front of the Disciplinary Panel next week.

Wow, after the whole publicity surrounding the death threats on Hicks and the effects that it had on his family etc I cannot believe anyone, let alone the chairman of a super league club would publicise such comments, sorry but it is disgraceful and an embarrassment to the sport.

....and treated and dealt with just as a player or coach (remember Paul March's punishment for comments to a ref?) would be if they'd questioned the integrity of a match official.

Which he describes as a 'pathetic spat'. Makes you wonder about the man himself, although as I believe he's a banker it's probably quite understandable.

Shocking comments. After all the effort to try and help people understand the pressure referees are under, he publishes that diatribe.

You’re right, he’s flat out said that Hicks was biased, not got things wrong, that he was biased. That’s a very much bigger deal than just complaining that he got things wrong.
Should be up on a charge for that.

There are plenty of their fans on redvee congratulating him for writing the article. They really are unbelievable!!

Disgraceful, is he aware that this "Pathetic spat" actually turned into a criminal investigation?

Eamonn McAnus (sic) needs 'hauling before the RFL' and charged with bringing the game into disrepute. Especially with them being notes in a matchday programme. He had plenty time to think about 'rewording' his article or even revoking it, before it got sent off to the printers. You lost the final 18-4 posh lad, it had nothing to do with one bad decision. Warrington had a try 'ruled out' by the video ref, which was a try also.

An absolute embarrassment. I think there is only one club who'd let such a thing be published.

Hicks was biased to Warrington because out CEO wanted to apologize for death threats made by a Warrington fan?

Doesn't make any sense. But sense clearly isn't something you can find in St. Helens.

Spot on.

Ironically if this were a post on Twitter you could write it off as a heat of the moment thing. But it’s a statement in the club programme when they should have been focussed on celebrating winning the LLS and presumably the clubs media officer went “WTF” when he/she saw it prior to being published too.

Blimey just had a read on there. They really are deluded on there. Only 1 or 2 being reasonable.

I’m no Saints fan but what McManus has said there is nowhere near as bad as people on here are making out. Whilst it does come across as sour grapes and could have been worded better, I think he makes some fair points. As controversial as it maybe I agree with the publicity stunt part also, I’ve seen a lot of comments saying this should have been done privately but so should the Hicks death threat meeting. As someone who has put millions into the game I think McManus is fine to voice his displeasure at the quality of officiating.

Eammon macmanus......multi millionair
Mike coleman .....owns 65 % of saints....multi BILLIONAIRE hedge fund manager
........
You think they give a what you losers think

I also find it funny he’s now upping the importance of the LLS now he realises that Saints might not win the GF.

Can’t believe all this, watching on tele in real time I thought, yep that’s gone dead, glad he’s not gone to the screen, let’s keep the game flowing.

Obviously a mistake, Hicks made 1 error, saints made about 20!

To blame a loss on a decision in the first 5 mins is bizarre, if it had happened in the last 5 mins maybe I’d understand more.

Is he genuinely saying Hicks didn’t give that try because he met someone who sent him a death threat?

I’ll moan about a ref decision from time to time but never would they there biased and want a team to win.

McManus is very very unlikable human being.

Just trying to move the attention away from his team of bottlers.

Really didn't care who won last week (though did enjoy the game). Belatedly, I'm delighted Warrington did. McManus has revealed his true colours; I used to think he was ok, as chairmen go, but not any more.

But that’s not what he’s done. He’s not said the quality is poor, that referees make too many mistakes, that there appears to be little accountability etc.

He’s said Hicks was bent. That’s what his statement said. That he appeared bent because of the death threat and then proved it on game day.

Firstly I find it bizarre to conflate impartiality with the death threat. It’s utterly strange to think that could affect a referees mindset. Only someone desperately looking for a link would create one in their own heads.

Secondly to describe a death threat and how it is dealt with as a publicity stunt is crass, inane drivel.

Thirdly I don’t care whether he’s put millions of pounds into the sport or 50p. He has only the same right as anybody else to voice his opinions. Just because he puts money in doesn’t mean he understands the game better than anyone else (©️ Marwan Koukash). He proves this by then going on to say it was a clear definite try. If he thinks that was a clear decision in real time then he’s a moron. The argument isn’t that Hicks should’ve given a try, it’s that he should’ve gone to the video ref.

This type of pathetic, insular, self-serving nonsense from the chairman of one the sports top clubs demonstrates why the sport is where it is. Too much passion, not enough nous on show. Too many owners/chairman/CEO’s acting like fans instead of leaders in the sport.

Where does is say that in his article.

His final 3 paragraphs. They are all saying Hicks impartiality was compromised by his dealing with a death threat several months previously.

It’s a ridiculous, petty statement from a usually respectable club.