Leeds' Keith Senior given light fine for calling referee 'arrogant'

Keith Senior will only have to part with £500 for describing the referee Richard Silverwood as "arrogant" after Leeds's defeat by Melbourne Storm in the World Club Challenge last month. The veteran centre was found guilty at a Rugby Football League hearing of breaching the game's operational rules by criticising Silverwood's character, but his fine of £1,000 – half suspended until the end of the season – was a quarter of the record amount the Hull Kingston Rovers coach, Justin Morgan, was forced to pay last year, for describing another referee, Ben Thaler, as "substandard". The panel took into account Senior's previous good record, the public apology he issued within hours of the post-match tirade and his continued contrition at the hearing. Senior will be able to discuss his fine with Silverwood on Sunday, following the latter's appointment for the Rhinos' match at Huddersfield. The Giants have made a morale-boosting announcement ahead of that game, revealing that their 25-year-old scrum-half Luke Robinson has extended his contract until the end of 2012. "Luke is pound for pound as tough a competitor as I have seen," said the Huddersfield coach, Nathan Brown. "In Robbo we have a player who can play a number of roles in the side and this is important for every squad." Robinson's versatility also means that the Giants are likely to make a fresh move for Danny Brough, the Wakefield scrum-half whose contract expires at the end of the season. However, Wakefield will hope that the chance to link up again with Paul Cooke, with whom he combined so effectively in Hull's Challenge Cup-winning team of 2005, will persuade Brough to stay at Belle Vue. Cooke's exclusion from Wakefield's 19-man squad for their televised game at Hull KR on Friday night means his move from Rovers is unlikely to be confirmed until next week. Hull have omitted Mark Calderwood and Danny Washbrook from their 19 for Friday's trip to Wigan, with Sean Long returning after three weeks out with a hamstring problem and Sam Moa retaining his place. Wigan will be without the Samoan centre George Carmont but Cameron Phelps returns to the squad. St Helens have Ade Gardner, Chris Flannery and Jon Wilkin back in contention for their home game against Crusaders, but Paul Wellens is out with a dead leg and Jonny Lomax will be missing for six to eight weeks with a shoulder injury sustained in last Sunday's defeat at Hull KR. Saints have yet to comment on the growing speculation that their England prop James Graham is keen to move to Australia next season. Graham has a year left on his contract but is thought to be keen to follow the example of Sam Burgess, the former Bradford prop who was in a similar situation this time last year but secured a release to join South Sydney. Sydney Roosters and Canberra are thought to be interested in Graham.