Why this seemingly innocent Origin image is leaving Blues and Queensland fans outraged – but for very different reasons
- Footy fans were left stunned after the double sin bin
- Both sides almost came to blows before a decision was made
The rugby league world was left outraged by a double sin resulting from a simple head rub during the Blues’ historic 38-18 win over Queensland at the MCG on Wednesday night.
Both sides were left with one player in the second half after a scuffle broke out following a big hit from Spencer Leniu on Jaydn Su’A, which forced a knock-on.
Blues players rushed in to celebrate, with Liam Martin rubbing Su’A’s head after the foul.
The scuffle came shortly after a similar incident in which Stephen Crichton was penalized for a grapple tackle on Daly Cherry-Evans.
Referee Ashley Klein intervened to warn both captains that he would throw players off if it happened again.
So after the second all-in melee, Klein started asking the Bunker who had run in.
“Don’t send anyone to the trash,” Andrew Johns said in a comment.
“I don’t know what happened here… let’s just play football, guys,” Queensland legend Cameron Smith added.
Blues striker Liam Martin rubbed Jaydn Su’A’s head after losing the ball during a tackle – and NSW fans were left stunned by what happened next
Martin was identified as the instigator, while Klein claimed he started it “by rubbing Su’A’s head.”
“So Liam went to rub heads when we’ve seen grabs, we’ve seen pick up and dump, we’ve seen Latrell kink someone, but when you rub someone’s head, the sin is thrown away,” Johns laughed.
Smith couldn’t believe his eyes either.
‘Wasted away for that? Come on,’ he said.
Queensland enforcer Pat Carrigan soon followed Martin for a stint in the bin.
Footy fans were as shocked as the commentators by what they saw, while angry Maroons fans were perplexed that Martin had not been sent off for an earlier incident in the match.
‘Explain how Liam Martin wasn’t sent off for that dangerous tackle, but for that. Can we be serious,” one posted to X.
‘Liam Martin’s spear tackles someone = no bucket. Latrell almost kills Coates = no fry. Trash on the ground from Martin and some defense from his Carrigan teammate = binning.
Martin, who was sin-binned, was fortunate not to be temporarily offside due to a bad tackle earlier in the match
Footy fans were stunned to see two players sent off after the incident
‘Liam Martin should have been in the bin three times, said another.’
However, NSW football fans were simply shocked that he was sent off for something as innocent as touching another player’s head.
‘They want to bring some of that melee to the scapegoat and they opt for a head massage? Give me a chance haha,” one X user posted.
“Ashley Klein should be fired immediately,” another replied.
‘Shame for a head massage, this game is becoming a joke and is being disabled. Just for the record, I’m a Blues supporter,” a third posted.