Hicks didn't deserve to get the final and hasn't got the final. It's as simple as that.
I assume McManus stopped Hicks getting all the other games in the play-offs too? Like Cas-Wire (Kendall), Cas-Salford (Thaler), Saints Wigan (Kendall) and Salford-Wigan (Thaler)?
Hicks reffed poorly in the CC final and has found himself out of contention for the big games at the end of the season as a result. It's all very simple.