Burgess was incensed that his side were denied a late penalty try following Alex Mellor’s high hit on Josh Thewlis, which allowed him to hold up the winger over the line.

“It’s becoming very common, the poor decisions,” said Burgess, whose side did subsequently score through Stefan Ratchford on a repeat set after the resulting penalty but left themselves too much to do.

Burgess claimed officials had apologised for over-ruling the on-field official and awarding a potentially crucial try to Catalans Dragons late in last week’s narrow win in Perpignan, and expects the same outcome this week.

Alluding to Sunday’s decision, Burgess added: “I’m really struggling to understand that call, so I’ll ask for clarity (from referees’ chief Phil Bentham) again, and I’ll probably get an email saying, ‘yeah, we got it wrong, it should have been a penalty try, sorry Sam.’

“It’s past the point of frustration. All being said I have to get it on the record, we just weren’t good enough as well.

“I’m not making excuses. Just from the neutrals’ point of view, it’s becoming a bit too much.”

Alex Mellor was sent to the sin-bin for this high tackle which prevented a Josh Thewlis touchdown, but no penalty try was awardedAlex Mellor was sent to the sin-bin for this high tackle which prevented a Josh Thewlis touchdown, but no penalty try was awarded (Image: Martin Rickett/PA Wire)

Wire’s defeat served a major blow to their hopes of wrestling their way into the play-off picture after a weekend in which wins for rivals Wakefield and Hull FC left Burgess’s men three points adrift of the top six.

“Quite frankly I’m not too worried about the end of the season, I’m more concerned with where we are as a group at the moment,” added Burgess, who confirmed Jordan Crowther suffered a suspected dislocated elbow.

“I still have full belief in who we are, something just needs to click for us because we’ve been putting too many good practise sessions together and many great things are happening around the place 

“I think our attitude towards a couple of things and moments are just hurting us. The outcome will sort itself out. We have to not get caught up in looking too far ahead, or worrying about others, and really focus internally.”

In general, Burgess said some of his side’s display was tough to watch:

He added: “Parts of it were decent, but we just conceded points a bit too easy. I thought the first two tries were too easy.

“We’ve been working hard in that area but it’s just not transferring for us yet so we’ve just got to stay on it.”

The players are to be given a break this week, with The Wire not in action again until they visit high-flying Leigh Leopards on Friday, August 1.

“We really need this break, it’s been 24/25 weeks (of matches) and we’ve not had a break since…I don’t know when it was.

“I think it’s come at a good time for us. We need a reset I think.”

Castleford’s interim head coach Chris Chester paid tribute to the way his side responded to last week’s desperate defeat at struggling Salford, describing himself as “super proud”.

Chester added: “We spoke all week about confidence and belief and how our effort levels need to be really of a high standard, and we got that in abundance today.

“I’m really pleased to get that result and I think we deserved it. I think we out-enthused Warrington. The starting pack that came out were really physical and we kicked the ball well.”