Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has accused the NRL's bunker of grossly over-reacting by sending off Dom Young and sin-binning Victor Radley in his side's dramatic loss to Canterbury.
The Roosters went within a whisker of pulling off the equal-biggest comeback in NRL history on Friday night, despite finishing the 30-26 loss with just 11 men on the field.
Young was dismissed in the first half for a high shot on Blake Taaffe, before Radley was sin-binned late for an apparent hip-drop tackle on Stephen Crichton.
Both calls frustrated Robinson, who has previously accused the bunker of failing to protect his players when it comes to high shots.
"[Dom] hit him high and it's not good for Blake. You don't want to see that," Robinson said.
"It hit him in the jaw, but it wasn't a swinging arm. It was open-handed. It was lower than shoulder height.
"If that's the standard, that's fine. But that's a new one for me. I feel like that's lower than what's been sent off before.
"It's definitely a sin bin. Blake's got concussed from that … But we've had guys stay on the field, not even go for 10, for [worse].
"That was a bit over the top. If they come out and say, 'Rightio that's the new [level]', there'll be a lot more send-offs in our game."
Robinson was even more incensed by the Radley sin bin, which came with the Roosters battling back at 30-20.
The tackle did not appear to meet several of the indicators of a hip drop, given Connor Watson had been the one to bring ball-carrier Stephen Crichton to the ground.
"The [Radley] one was ridiculous," Robinson said.
"Connor is the one that tackles [Crichton] from behind and twists his ankle, and then [Radley] falls on that ankle.
"How they got there, to that decision, that's incredible. That was below par."
Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo agreed, arguing the call was "harsh".
"Accidents happen. And we've been on the other end of them a few times," Ciraldo said.
"So I've got sympathy for a bloke who gets sent to the sin bin for hip drops."
Beyond Young and Radley, the Roosters are guaranteed to be without Sam Walker and James Tedesco against Newcastle on Thursday after both suffered concussions.
Walker was OK in the dressing room after, but Robinson said Tedesco was "getting his memory back" at halftime.
Newcastle may have found their halves combination, after Jackson Hastings and Jack Cogger eased pressure on the Knights by inspiring a 30-10 defeat of St George Illawarra amid wet and wild conditions.
In torrential rain at their McDonald Jones Stadium home, the Knights controlled the majority of Friday night's game, their attack looking the best it has all season — thanks largely to their third unique halves pairing in five games.
Last season's semi-finalists were staring down the possibility of a 1-4 record but confirmed their second win of the year with a solid defensive display after halftime.
Knights coach Adam O'Brien hinted he would name the same halves pairing against the Sydney Roosters in round six, with Tyson Gamble likely to play NSW Cup for a second week running.
"I'll have a look at what Tyson Gamble did in reserve grade, from all reports he played a big part in that, but at the moment, those two halves can hold their head up," O'Brien said.
"We got a win, we got a quite comfortable win. I don't need to go executing anyone this week."
The Dragons' mixed start to 2024 continued and they will sweat on the availability of Jack Bird after the centre appeared to injure his left knee.
Early signs are that Bird's injury is not severe, but he did not return after falling awkwardly in a tackle from Hastings just after halftime.
In his first game since the Dragons granted his release request, the unsettled Zac Lomax was one of few exceptions as the visitors struggled to adapt to the slippery conditions.
Newcastle poked holes in the Dragons' goal-line defence for fun in the first half, forcing Shane Flanagan to switch Lomax to fullback and put Tyrell Sloan on the wing for part of the second half.
The irony would not have been lost on Lomax, whose frustration with his move to the wing had triggered his desire to move on.
The Dragons went scoreless after the 22nd minute but the Knights had no such execution issues in the wet.
"We didn't try to play too expansive, we played to the conditions," O'Brien said.
"It's not rocket science."
When Sloan coughed up the first of many grubber kicks from Cogger, Hastings pounced on the loose ball and opened the scoring on return from his two-week spell in NSW Cup.
Enari Tuala added a second try before Cogger, taking on the bulk of kicking responsibilities, landed a grubber in a puddle and Daniel Saifiti slid through to extend the hosts' advantage.
An inside ball from Hastings to Dylan Lucas helped stretch the halftime lead to 14 points.
The Dragons looked most dangerous when Lomax and Ben Hunt were linking up on the right edge, as they did for the side's only two tries of the night.
Hunt grubbered through the line to help the winger score the Saints' first, before a freakish no-look flick pass from Lomax put the halfback in for the second.
But when Ponga quite literally slid over for the Knights' fifth try in the final 10 minutes, the hosts were home.
"We're not consistent enough and we need to find out why," said Flanagan.
"Tonight there were tricky conditions, but it's not an excuse."
Re-live all the news, scores and action below in our live blog.
That'll do me, what an absolutely crazy night of footy.
There'll be plenty to dissect in the days to come, so be sure to check back here for all the updates and fallout.
Don't forget, the ABC will be blogging every game of the NRL season this year so tune in tomorrow from 3pm as South Sydney host the Warriors.
Have a good one.
LoadingTrent Robinson wasn't happy about the send-off in the Roosters loss, he's come out pretty strongly against it in the post-match press conference.
Newcastle may have found their halves combination, after Jackson Hastings and Jack Cogger eased pressure on the Knights by inspiring a 30-10 defeat of St George Illawarra.
In torrential rain, the Knights controlled the majority of Friday night's game, their attack looking the best it has all season — thanks largely to their third unique halves pairing in five games.
Last season's semi-finalists were staring down the possibility of a 1-4 record but confirmed their second win of the year with a solid defensive display after halftime.
The Dragons' mixed start to 2024 continued and they will sweat on the availability of Jack Bird after the centre appeared to injure his left knee.
Early signs are that Bird's injury is not severe, but he did not return after falling awkwardly in a tackle from Jackson Hastings just after halftime.
In his first game since the Dragons granted his release request, the unsettled Zac Lomax was one of few exceptions as the visitors struggled to adapt to the slippery conditions.
Newcastle poked holes in the Dragons' goal-line defence for fun in the first half, forcing Shane Flanagan to switch Lomax to fullback and put Tyrell Sloan on the wing for part of the second half.
The irony would not have been lost on Lomax, whose frustration with his move to the wing had triggered his desire to move on.
Once in position, the Dragons struggled to execute and went scoreless after the 22nd minute.
When Sloan coughed up the first of many grubber kicks from Cogger, Hastings pounced on the loose ball and opened the scoring on return from his two-week spell in NSW Cup.
Enari Tuala added a second try before Cogger, taking on the bulk of kicking responsibilities, landed a grubber in a puddle and Daniel Saifiti slid through to extend the hosts' advantage.
An inside ball from Hastings to Dylan Lucas helped stretch the halftime lead to 14 points.
The Dragons looked most dangerous when Lomax and Ben Hunt were linking up on the right edge, as they did for the side's only two tries of the night.
Hunt grubbered through the line to help the winger score Saints' first, before a freakish no-look flick pass from Lomax put the halfback in for their second.
But when Ponga quite literally slid over for the Knights' fifth try in the final five minutes, the hosts were home.
AAP
That'll do us. Newcastle played the conditions far more intelligently than the Dragons did and they were duly rewarded. Good result for Adam O'Brien's side.
Ponga throws a great pass out to Tuala, he's away and kicks back into the centre and Ponga is on hand to score and cap a terrific game. He converts as well, and the Knights are home at 30-10.
Hastings steals it off Lomax, the Knights can get a knock-out blow here, Hunt tries to take it back but loses it, Croker scoops it up and he takes off. The cover gets him, but the Knights can kill the game off here.
Crossland nearly sneaks over from dummy half, then on the very next play Thompson does the same and gets over but it's disallowed because he went through Crossland's legs. Saints survive.
Ponga cuts through of a nice inside pass from Cogger, his pass out to Jenkins is knocked down by Ravalawa but the Knights get a drop out from the play. Lomax makes a great catch to take it, but he gets taken into touch. Still Newcastle ball, but eventually a poor pass out of dummy half from Hastings is knocked on by Ponga. The Dragons survive.
The Dragons spread it nicely to the left, Sloan just throws it back inside to avoid being bundled into touch, Bird gathers it in as he picks it up and he's down with a knee injury. It seems serious, lot of concern being shown by both sides.
He's off the field and being treated to now.....he's standing up, but he's done for the night.
Flanagan nearly skirts through on the fourth and a second effort from the Knights defenders earns the Dragons another set. Leilua gets some early ball against a retreating defensive line, he winds up and looks hard to stop but his inside ball is just a bit low for Lomax. The Knights hang on.
Hastings puts over a nice little kick, lands it in space, it skids into the in-goal and Best knocks it on as he tries to put it down. A lucky escape for the Dragons.
And we're back at it in Newcastle. Dragons kick off.
Four stars were knocked out, two returned from drug bans and one was sent off as Canterbury stunned the Sydney Roosters 30-26 at Sydney's Olympic stadium.
On the most dramatic night of the season so far, the Bulldogs produced their best half in eight years to lead 26-0 at the break before they were almost mown down by the Roosters.
With only 11 men left on the field, the Tri-colours got themselves to within four points with four minutes to play but the Bulldogs held on for victory.
Had the Roosters pulled off an unlikely win it would have equalled the record for the largest comeback in NRL history.
But instead Canterbury's triumph, which included a Matt Burton hat-trick in front of 7169 fans in Sydney's driving rain, was only part of the story.
Roosters star and Australia's Test captain James Tedesco was knocked out in the first half by a rampaging Viliame Kikau, moments after halfback Sam Walker was concussed by a stray leg.
Dom Young is another Rooster unlikely to be facing Newcastle on Thursday, after being sent off for a high shot that floored Bulldogs fullback Blake Taaffe during an incident-packed first half.
Victor Radley could also face suspension, after ending the game in the sin bin for a hip-drop tackle on Stephen Crichton.
The first-half concussions prompted the Roosters to utilise 18th man Michael Jennings in his return from a three-year ban for steroid use.
Suspended in the middle of Parramatta's 2020 finals series, the 35-year-old's career appeared over before he was picked up by the Roosters during the summer.
The former Kangaroos Test centre's return came on the same night the Bulldogs' Bronson Xerri made his comeback from a four-year drugs ban.
With Young sent off in the 27th minute and the Bulldogs' handsome halftime lead, Canterbury were unbackable favourites.
But somehow the match swung, the Roosters piling on four tries in an 11-minute period after the break.
AAP
Saints have one last chance at Newcastle's line but Hunt makes a mistake and the Knights hang on. Big lead at halftime for the home side, but there's a mighty breeze that will be at the Red V's backs in the second half. This one is far from over.
Imagine playing in this with an old pigskin.
- Andy
It's something else, that's for sure. An old leather ball would be like a cake of soap!
- Nick Campton
Newcastle are in again, this time it's Lucas - Cogger does a good job to get him one-on-one against Flanagan and Lucas uses his footwork to power past him and over the line. Ponga converts and at 24-10 Newcastle it's a big lead now.
I cannot stress to you enough how wet it is in Newcastle, the cameras are starting to fog up and there are puddles all over the ground.
The Knights, however, are playing the conditions very well. Cogger sets up another try by putting a nice grubber through, Sloan is out of position, Hunt slips as he tries to field it and D.Saifiti is on hand to dive on the loose ball and score. Ponga converts and it's 18-10 Newcastle.
Newcastle get easy passage from their own end via a ruck penalty and Ponga chimes into the attack beautifully with a nice cut-out pass that finds an open Tuala who cruises over to score. Ponga converts from touch to boot and the Knights have retaken the lead 12-10.
After a period of sustained defence on their own line, the Dragons force an error from Ponga via a good shot from Hunt.
On the ensuing set, the Dragons go right on the last, Lomax has some space but it vanishes quickly, he looks certain to be thrown over the sideline...only for Lomax to fang it back in-field, a no-look, back-handed flick and it goes directly to Hunt who scores! One of the passes of the year and in these conditions no less! Lomax converts and the Dragons lead 10-6.
Leilua powers through and he has Suli in support, the Knights are offside from the next play and the Dragons stay on the attack.
On the ensuing set Hunt goes blindside, holds up Tuala with a dummy and slides a great grubber kick behind him and Lomax is there to score. Great kick from Hunt, great put-down from Lomax in these conditions. Kick goes wide, score is 6-4.
Newcastle get a penalty on their own 40 but it's so windy they just take the tap. Cogger puts in a nice grubber, Sloan loses it in the contest and Hastings is on hand to put it down and score. Nice moment for Hastings in his return to the side. Ponga converts and it's 6-0 Knights.
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