SAINTS loose forward Morgan Knowles should have been the opening try scorer at yesterday’s Challenge Cup Final, but instead he was left bewildered at the decision not to refer the touchdown to the video ref.

The Welsh international loose forward chased Theo Fages’ grubber in the opening minutes of the Wembley encounter – and although he won the race and got downward pressure, no try was given.

Potentially, a try then to put their noses in front, could have been pivotal – instead it was Warrington who grew into the game and took an iron grip with a simple game-plan.

Knowles said: “ I can’t think why you wouldn’t send I up. It still doesn’t win us the game, but I can’t understand why you wouldn’t check it.

“I am bewildered – you can’t be that sure when it is blatant that I’ve scored.”

Warrington went on to take a two-score lead at the break – and Saints made even more errors as they played catch-up, in a vicious circle.

“All the boys are devastated with the defeat - it is an opportunity missed,” Knowles said, “but credit to Warrington – they were the better team on the day. I don’t think there was much in it.

“Warrington defended really well and were better than us in a couple of little areas.

“It was tough conditions out there, especially with me having a few weeks out with my injury, building into this.

He very deliberately with the rest of the Saints team watched Warrington pick up the cup – out of respect for the winners, but to use that has motivation.

He added: “I am disappointed.

“It was hard to watch them pick up the cup, but you have to take it in and use it as a bit of driving force moving forward.

“There are some big games still to come.

“We have got to use the pain and feeling which will linger for a long time as a motivation going into training and do that extra little bit, use it for the games for the run in.”