Warriors forward Demitric Sifakula won’t forget his second NRL game any time soon after being sin-binned for striking the biggest name in the game, Nathan Cleary.
The Warriors trailed 14-6 with 15 minutes left on the clock when Cleary came up with a big tackle on Josh Curran, which forced the ball loose.
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Curran wasn’t happy about the error and grabbed Cleary’s jersey as the both exchanged words.
“That was a great shot from the New South Wales halfback, straight under the rib cage. We’ve seen some brutal shots this afternoon and this one’s a beauty,” Fox League’s Wayne Bennett said in commentary.
“The big fella didn’t like it. They don’t like it the big fellas when the halfbacks get a shot on them.”
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It sparked a melee with players from both sides running in — including 19-year-old Sifakula.
The bench forward looked as if he was trying to grab Cleary’s collar but instead struck his chin.
“I guess an attempt at an old fashioned jumper punch… A brain explosion from the rookie leaves the Warriors short,” commentator Warren Smith said.
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Referee Todd Smith picked up on the moment and called Sifakula in.
“You’ve come in with a striking action… You’re in the bin,” he said.
The Warriors were forced to spend the next 10 minutes one man down and conceded a try during that period, which sealed the Panthers’ 18-6 win.
