New South Wales coach Brad Fittler is adamant referee Ashley Klein made the correct decision to sin bin Queensland’s Felise Kaufusi just before half time in Origin II.
With Queensland leading 12-8, Kaufusi was marched for 10 minutes after the Maroons were penalised for repeated ruck infringements. Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans pleaded in vain with Klein, arguing “they’re all different.”
Queensland legend Paul Vautin called the sin bin “a gee-up” on Nine’s coverage.
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Fittler complained after game one that Queensland was allowed to dominate the ruck, neutralising his side’s attack.
Asked what he made of the decision to send Kaufusi to the sin bin, the Blues’ coach thought Klein was left with little choice.
“I thought what happened was we were trying to get the better of them and the only way they were keeping up was giving away penalties so I thought it was warranted,” he said.
His opposite number, Billy Slater, refused to be drawn on the call.
“I would have to go back and look at the penalties individually, but that’s the referees job, they’ll review their own game. We won’t use that as an excuse,” he said.
Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans was also playing a straight bat.
“We put ourselves in some really tough positions, I thought we were really brave to defend the way we did after half time. What happened after that wasn’t great. For the most part I thought we tried really hard,” he explained.
Vautin was not alone in hitting out at the decision, with former Blues coach Phil Gould also questioning the call.
“I’m disappointed in the sin bin for the game’s sake, but let’s hope that doesn’t decide the result,” Gould said on Nine’s coverage.
“I hate sin bins at the best of times, let alone in an Origin. I don’t think there was ever a warning here.
“He (Klein) just ruled four or five (penalties) in the space of a minute and then just had enough and sent him (Kaufusi) off.
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“Now, they’ll justify that, but Origin football or any football, I don’t think it should’ve got to that point.
“All those six agains he gave to get them into sin bin territory, you’d need a magnifying glass to work out exactly what had gone wrong or why it needed to be penalised.
“The fact that they’re six agains and not penalty kicks for goal means they just give them away like smarties. You don’t need it, it’s Origin football.”
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