NRL referee overturns sin bin in ‘best captain’s challenge ever’

The NRL was left stunned after a wild turning point moment changed the game for more than just the Panthers against the Knights.

Can't remember the last time a sin bin was overturned in a captain's challenge. Photo: Fox Sports

The Newcastle Knights had the Penrith Panthers on the ropes at McDonald-Jones Stadium on Saturday night but a potentially game-changing moment kept the defending premiers alive.

With just over three minutes left in the first half, the Knights were hunting a cherry on top of a 14-6 scoreline over the Panthers.

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The Knights were at their best while the Panthers were tamed in comparison.

Fox League’s Michael Ennis said the vocal home crowd was a big factor, saying he hadn’t heard the stadium rocking that loud since the Johns brothers played for the club.

The Panthers were barely holding on to stop the score getting more out of control when Jarome Luai defused a bomb in the in-goal.

It was then all-hell broke loose.

Referee Peter Gough sin-binned Panthers forward Spencer Leniu after the Knights’ Tyson Gamble went to the deck in backplay.

Gamble was the chaser for Newcastle and went shoulder to shoulder with Scott Sorensen, while Leniu turned towards the ball, bracing himself for impact.

But he was shocked when Gough gave him his marching orders, screaming: “What for? What the f**k was that for?”

Spencer Leniu was in disbelief. Photo: Fox Sports

Warren Smith said: “Spencer Leniu can’t believe it, but Gamble was taken down on the chase.”

Ennis was equally shocked, saying: “It’s Sorensen, not Leniu.”

The Panthers however called for a captain’s challenge.

Depending on the glasses you were wearing in the contest, you could imagine the call going either way as Leniu was braced and turned in the line.

But it also appeared his back foot may have made contact with Gamble.

“Leniu doesn’t touch anyone,” Ennis added.

However, Bunker official Ashley Klein called the contact “incidental”.

While it was going to be a penalty from in front for the Knights with a chance to make it a 10-point ball game with the Panthers down to 12 men, the call meant Leniu’s sin bin was revoked and Penrith had a 20m restart.

“What a change of events here,” Ennis said.

“Might be the best captain’s challenge we’ve ever seen,” Smith said. “An incredible call here, was going to a 10 point lead here, maybe more. Unbelievable captain’s challenge.”

Was it a trip? Photo: Fox Sports

But the original call also left a bad taste in people’s mouths.

Would love to know what the initial decision to sin-bin Leniu was based on. #NRLKnightsPanthers

— Scott Bailey (@ScottBaileyAAP) April 15, 2023

The ref clearly didn't see Leniu do anything wrong - because he didn't do anything wrong - yet penalised and sin binned him simply because the crowd roared. Seriously

— Dean Ritchie (@BulldogRitchie) April 15, 2023

These dives and sin bins effect games!!!

— The Mole (@9_Moley) April 15, 2023

It didn’t all come up Panthers however with Sorensen denied on the halftime buzzer by scramble defence from the Knights who got to a Soni Luke kick fractionally before the Panther.

But the Panthers hit back in the second half.

A high shot from Gamble on a slipping Nathan Cleary finally broke the deadlock in the 54th minute before interchange forward Jaeman Salmon slid his way over the line.

It came after Tyson Frizell was penalised for pulling Luai’s hair.

Originally published as NRL referee overturns sin bin in ‘best captain’s challenge ever’