A controversial send off in Warrington’s 36-10 win over Hull FC in the Super League overnight has overshadowed Sam Burgess’ first win as a head coach.
In the final minutes of the first half and the two sides level at six points all, Hull FC’s and former Bulldogs dummy-half Nu Brown made incidental contact with the head of Warrington’s Ben Currie while attempting a tackle.
The collision caused left a nasty gash above Currie’s eye which left a lot of blood. However, while the contact was heavy, replays showed it was clearly and accident from Brown.
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Referee Marcus Griffiths didn’t see it that way though, calling Brown out and sensationally sending him off.
“It’s head on contact, it’s forceful and dangerous, there’s no mitigation. You’re off,” Griffiths instructed Brown.
Playing with a man down, Hull FC were outscored 30-4 from that point on.
“That’s just an accidental clash of heads there,” a Sky Sports commentator said.
Former NRL winger turned Sky Sports analyst Brian Carney wasn’t backwards in coming forward when discussing the send off post-game.
“I cannot support this action in the game,” Carney said.
“If this is a red card, I’m saying we’ve got an existential threat to the attractiveness of our game. In a million years I cannot find a red card in this instance.”
Burgess was asked about the incident after the game and vehemently disagreed with the decision, even though it benefited his team.
“Common sense should come in,” he told Sky Sports.
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