Papua New Guinea and Cook Islands players were extremely lucky to escape with sin bins following two ugly tackles in their heated Group D clash on Wednesday morning AEDT.
PNG enforcer Mackenzie Yei was the first sent for 10 minutes when the 115kg prop hit Rua Ngatikaura with a sloppy swinging arm.
Yei is made of pure muscle and came from the side to collect his rival square across the chops in the 28th minute of the Kumuls’ 26-8 win.
Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
“For me, that is aggressive direct contact to the head,” James Graham said on Fox League.
“If we’re going to be consistent in our game then I’m failing to see how he’s not gone.”
In the second half, the game was all but wrapped up with PNG leading 26-12 with 15 minutes to play when Cook Islands centre Reubenn Rennie had a brain explosion.
MORE NRL NEWS
‘SHAKING THEIR HEADS’: Bunker blunder stuns WC as ugly tackle ignites clash
WHISPERS: Knights push for Garrick’s release as Dogs snare Titans powerhouse
‘I WAS KEEN’: Sharks legend’s heartbreaking retirement, despite interest to play on
‘A LOT OF INTEREST’: Burton set to be next $1m man, Dogs face battle to keep star
Kumuls prop Wellington Albert was wrapped up in a tackle when Rennie inexplicably tip-tackled him into the turf.
“Well that’s almost a send off, isn’t it. There was no call for that at all,” Andrew Voss said on Fox League.
“Where did that come from? The tackle was made then absolutely take off the head and put on a pumpkin.
“It makes no sense at all to produce that, this is high drama in Warrington, the tackle was finished, but just not called for.”
PNG v Cook Islands: Match highlights | 03:00
MORE NRL NEWS
TRANSFERS GRADED: Stars who made a mockery of critics… and the big four fails
‘BEST NO TRY EVER’: Tonga flyer’s stunning effort denied as ‘brave’ Wales go down
DREAM TEAM: Flanagan set to join Seibold’s Manly pending release as clause revealed
TRANSFER CENTRE: Panthers sign Broncos forward and former Bulldogs halfback
But Rennie escaped with 10 minutes in the bin instead of being given his marching orders.
“That is dangerous, hand going in between the legs,” Graham said.
“You cannot do that, and it looks like Wellington is okay but you can’t do that.”
The incidents came just two days after Ireland second rower James Bentley accused a Lebanon rival Kayne Kalache of a low blow.
Irish enforcer Jaimin Jolliffe was later in the game placed on report a high tackle on Kalache that ended his night and sent him to hospital.
‘He grabbed my balls!’ | 00:38
MORE NRL NEWS
WHAT EVERY NRL CLUB NEEDS BEFORE RD1: Gaping holes everywhere
EVERY CLUB’S PREDICTED BREAKOUT STAR: Prodigy to fix Reynolds problem
‘NO PRIDE IN THE JERSEY’: Dragons legend slams ‘disgraceful’ state of fallen club
WC WRAP: Samoa bounce back in 68-point massacre; Eels star’s Lebanon masterclass
‘GO FIGURE’: Cheika slams double standards as Lebanon enforcer hospitalised
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!
