Rugby League: Dorahy faces charges

THE Wigan coach, John Dorahy, could face disrepute charges for his comments about the refereeing of his club's home defeat by Wakefield Trinity.

Dorahy accused the referee, Robin Whitfield, of being 'too old, too outdated and unable to handle the pace of the game' and called his performance on Wednesday night 'disgusting'.

The Rugby League is studying a video of the match to assess the context in which the remarks were made, but Dorahy, the target of chants for his sacking from a section of the Wigan crowd, could be subject to a heavy fine.

He was unrepentant yesterday, insisting that Whitfield had cost his team the match by allowing Wakefield to hold down in the tackle.

The Wakefield coach, David Topliss, launched his own counter-attack. 'I was disgusted with his attitude,' he said of Dorahy. 'I was talking to Wigan players afterwards and none of them could see anything wrong with the match.'

Dorahy has spoken to Henry Paul, the Junior Kiwi captain who was the architect of Wakefield's win, about playing for Wigan in the future. Paul talked to Dorahy after their Challenge Cup meeting last month but is contracted to the Auckland Warriors for 1995.

Martin Dermott is likely to miss the League game against Salford and the Challenge Cup tie against Featherstone with a neck strain. Va'aiga Tuigamala has been X-rayed for cheekbone damage.

Halifax will be without their prop, John Fieldhouse, for tonight's match against his old club, Warrington. Fieldhouse has been suspended for one match after being cited by Leigh for what they claimed were high tackles on two of their players. Fieldhouse was found guilty on one of the counts.