It was one of the more spectacular hits of the season, but it’s also left NRL fans scratching their heads.
As the Storm attacked the Sharks line in the 54th minute, Cronulla five-eighth Braydon Trindall rushed out of the line and smashed half Jahrome Hughes ‘into next week’ as called by Nine’s Matt Thompson.
Hughes was left with a bloodied face from the collision and, as trainers tended to him, a penalty was awarded on review by the bunker for high contact—but no further action was taken.
Neither set of fans were happy about it.
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Sharks faithful lead by 2016 premiership captain Paul Gallen felt the penalty was harsh given a similar incident involving Tom Hazelton in last week’s match against Canberra went unpunished.
“This is where fans get frustrated,” Gallen said on Nine.
“We saw the same thing last week, Tom Starling comes out of the line, has a head clash with Tom Hazelton who gets knocked out cold and it was play on, yet this week it’s a penalty.”
Meanwhile Storm fans were equally unimpressed with the officiating given only a penalty was awarded despite chants of ‘off, off, off’ as the bunker deliberated.
Replays showed Trindall appeared to lead with his shoulder with little attempt to wrap his arms, however he controversially escaped the sin bin—no doubt raising eyebrows from other players who weren’t so lucky after finding themselves in similar circumstances this season.
In one final curiosity, Hughes was also allowed to remain on the field with no need for an HIA, despite clear visual evidence of head contact.
Go figure.