Rugby league: Fans erupt over Warriors' sin bin drama

The new NRL rules will need to be reassessed after the commentators were left as stunned as the players over a sin bin between the Storm and Warriors.

The traditional ANZAC clash saw the teams trade early tries but young Warriors forward Josh Curran was sin binned after demolishing winger George Jennings.

The Warriors put up a bomb with Curran leading the chasers and seemingly timing his charge perfectly to put the hit on Jennings.

The Storm star was clearly hurt by the hit and stayed on the ground, ultimately failing his HIA.

It comes after Roosters star James Tedesco was rubbed out of the match against the Dragons before halftime after being hit high with a swinging arm, sparking an inconsistency debate.

Former Tigers hard man Steve Roach said "He's trying to get himself a bit low — I don't think there was anything bad in that tackle".

Fox League's Warren Smith agreed that he didn't see anything above the shoulders.

"Is it a head clash with Curran? I think that's exactly what it was," he said. "Head clash between Curran and Jennings, it's exactly what it is. It's shoulder to shoulder as far as any illegal contact is concerned. He was attempting to make a legitimate tackle."

Warriors players look dejected. Photo / Photosport

"I'm with you, I think it's accidental," Roach said. "That's exactly what the coach Nathan Brown would want from his players, to go through as hard as they can on kick-chase, but it can't be a penalty. I feel sorry for the young bloke who's down at the moment but I don't think there's anything untoward in it."

But the Bunker saw something the commentators didn't, ruling that Curran made contact with the head.

The reaction to the news was "What?" while Curran and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck looked baffled by the call.

Roach agreed with the Kiwis.

"What?" he said.

Smith said: "I think they've got it wrong. We didn't see it that way at all."

"Does that put you off chasing and being so aggressive with your defence on the back three. I think that's a poor decision that one," Roach added.

They weren't the only ones.

The game is pedantic. Penalties for tackling too hard in games across the weekend. One just now against Curran. The game is built on physicality. We’re legislating for everything and it’s ripping the fabric of the sport IMHO #NRLRoostersDragons #NRL @PhilGould15 #NRLStormWarriors

— Mathew Thompson (@MathewJThompson) April 25, 2021

That’s a bullsh*t call

— Jharal Yow Yeh (@Jharalyowyeh5) April 25, 2021

The @nrl has lost the plot that was a simple head clash end of story @NZWarriors can’t keep getting simple stuff wrong

— Michelle Bishop (@7michellebishop) April 25, 2021

The Storm only scored once during the 10 minutes with an extra man but piled on the points in the rest of the half, leading 26-4 just before halftime.