Rugby Football League boss Greg McCallum has hit back at Bulls chairman Chris Caisley's criticism of the referee's handling of the Challenge Cup final.

Caisley was highly critical of the performance of Russell Smith and was upset with the decision to sin-bin Bulls centre Shane Rigon for obstruction after only ten minutes.

During his absence Saints scored their first try on their way to a 13-6 victory.

But the League's Executive Director Greg McCallum said: "We have studied the important incident that led to the sin- binning of Shane Rigon.

"After careful examination on video footage from all angles there is no doubt that the sin-binning decision was appropriate and there are also reasonable grounds for argument for the awarding of a penalty-try.

"Clearly St Helens player Tommy Martyn was deliberately obstructed by Rigon, who had no chance of reaching the ball.

"The positioning of the ball in relation to the other Bulls player in close proximity to the incident, Leon Pryce, also suggests that Martyn would have won the race to the ball over the Bulls line.

"I would say that any person looking to use the sin binning decision as an excuse for the result of the Silk Cut Challenge Cup Final should, in fact, look elsewhere."

Meanwhile former Great Britain international David Topliss and Salford chairman John Wilkinson have been appointed team managers for the Origin game between Yorkshire and Lancashire at Headingley on June 6.

Topliss played 14 times for Yorkshire during his illustrious playing career, while Wilkinson will assist his former Salford coach Andy Gregory, who will take charge of the Lancastrians.

"The whole Origin concept is tremendously exciting," said Topliss.

"I won the old style county championship five times, so I am immensely proud to be given the job."

The match has been revived in an attempt to raise standards in the British game, following the poor performance of the home countries in last year's World Cup.