BULLS coach Jimmy Lowes has been fined £250 for his criticism of referee Joe Cobb following the stormy opening-day defeat at Leigh on February 15.

Lowes was deemed to be in breach of Operational Rule D1.1 (b) (Improper Conduct) by engaging in conduct which is prejudicial to the interests of the game; Operational Rule C2.8  (criticism of officials); and the RFL Respect Policy.

The fine is suspended until the end of the 2015 season and Lowes has also been warned as to his future behaviour.

The RFL's investigation into a number of "off-field incidents" during the match at Leigh Sports Village is expected to be finally concluded within the next fortnight.

Lowes branded Cobb a disgrace following the Bulls’ opening 36-24 Championship defeat at Leigh Sports Village.

Bradford appeared to be cruising after establishing a 20-6 lead at the end of a first half which saw Newton-le-Willows official Cobb issue five yellow cards and a sixth after the break.

The Bulls boss felt the mass brawl which saw Danny Williams and Gregg McNally sin-binned was as a result of Cobb’s failure to stamp his authority on the game early on.

He insisted a Super League official should have been appointed to referee the eagerly-anticipated league opener.

Lowes said after the match: “We threw that game away – let’s be right. It was down to us and some of the stuff we did in that second half.

“But I thought we were massively undone by the referee and the officials. I thought it was a disgrace in the second half but he just lost control right from the start. We needed a strong ref for a strong game – simple as that.

“The incident (involving Williams) was a result of what had gone on for 15, 20 minutes into the game. He wasn’t the correct referee for the job. We needed a strong referee in there.

“Some of the stuff we’ve worked on, when it came to the crunch, we didn’t do it and I was disappointed about that.

“But if you have to have a go at the referee going down the tunnel at half-time, to make him referee the game differently, then I might have to start doing that. Some stuff crept in that’s not straight-up rugby.”