NRL referee Peter Gough stunned onlookers by opting against sin-binning anyone following an all-in fight between the Dragons and the Titans on Sunday.
Gold Coast skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui was at the centre of the first-half melee which ignited from a scrap on the ground between him and St George Illawarra young gun Tyrell Sloan.
Dragons enforcer Jaydn Su’a came running in to take out Fa’asuamaleaui, before Titans forward Erin Clark appeared to throw a punch – but nobody was binned.
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The decision to keep everyone on the field was particularly unexpected given Francis Molo had been binned earlier in the half for a high shot and Fa’asuamaleaui was warned for running in.
The Dragons were returning a kick in the 32nd minute when Shane Flanagan interrupted his Fox League co-commentator Warren Smith to announce “there’s a fight on in back play”.
“It has erupted. We’ll be missing one or two players here, I don’t know what happened to spark that off but there’s a bit to go over,” Smith responded.
“It’s Tino on the ground with Tyrell Sloan, Su’a came in and he’ll be missing for 10 minutes and so too will be Erin Clark, you would think for lashing out at the Dragons.”
“Well I think originally the Dragons were complaining that there was two in the tackle and there was a strip, but then something goes on, on the ground, and Erin Clark there… that’s striking,” Flanagan said.
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“I think they might be both missing a player here, I’d be shocked if, after what we’ve seen earlier in the game, if at least Jaydn Su’a and Erin Clark aren’t gone for 10,” Smith said.
“It’s strange in the modern game because all the players know you can’t come running in and you definitely can’t be throwing any punches. Whether it was a punch, I’m not sure, but it definitely looked like one,” Flanagan said.
Gough then called over Fa’asuamaleaui and Clark but surprisingly the lock was allowed to stay on the field.
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“We don’t need people coming in, if it happens again, I don’t care who it is, they will sit down. I’m not going to have a repeat of a big scuffle,” Gough said.
“You have the penalty here for what Jaydn Su’a has done and I’ll talk to them, but like I’ve said if anyone comes in again and it blows up – they’re going to go sit down.”
Smith described the decision as “surprising” and suggested Clark was saved by not closing his fist.
“Obviously it’s been deemed that he didn’t throw any punches. An open hand shove perhaps towards the face of Tyrell Sloan then it really got a bit jiggy didn’t it,” Smith said.
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Gough then called out Dragons skipper Ben Hunt and Su’a to deliver the same message.
“You’ve created what’s happened, that’s why the penalty is going against you. Same thing I’ve just said to Tino, if we have a repeat of that, I don’t care what player comes running in, they’re going to the sin bin. And that goes for both teams,” Gough said.
“That’s a real surprise. It’s a penalty against the Dragons and it’s going to stay 13 on 13,” Smith said.
“He’s been a great leader in his time as captain, has Tino, but a fiery type at times. He treads a fine line and will need to keep a lid on things here to keep it 13 on 13.”
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