‘Ridiculous’: NRL ‘joke’ slammed as Dolphins enter record books

Fans, commentators and Wayne Bennett have slammed a controversial call but it hasn’t been able to stop history being made.

The hit did not deserve a sin bin. Photo: Fox Sports

Any doubt about the Dolphins struggling in its first season in the NRL have already been put to bed after the club’s stunning 20-14 comeback win over the Canberra Raiders.

Playing the club’s first match at its spiritual home ground at Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe in torrential rain, the Dolphins showed exceptional steel in defence, especially to start the second half.

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In front of a packed house the fans were in full voice, even with the horrid conditions, cheering for the home side throughout the night.

Captain Jesse Bromwich said the scenes made the “hairs on the back of your neck stand up”.

The win also means the Dolphins join the Broncos and Storm as the third expansion team in NRL history to have won its first two matches.

After a thumping early hit ignited the match, Canberra ran out to a 12-0 lead after 30 minutes before the Dolphins responded just before the break.

The Dolphins scored again and took the lead via a penalty goal, setting up a grandstand finish with the home side pulling off the massive comeback as the sides were left with 12 men each at the end of the match.

Canberra’s Hudson Young was given 10 minutes in the bin with just over 10 minutes remaining after he was caught well off-side at marker as the Dolphins dived over the line.

The Dolphins hit the lead for the first time in the game, kicking a penalty goal to go up 14-12

But it didn’t last long as the Raiders hit back in controversial scenes.

“Oh geez, that’s a savage call,” Dan Ginnane said in commentary.

But Shane Flanagan argued the defensive player had to be responsible for the head contact.

The ball had just been kicked by Harawira-Naera. Photo: Fox Sports

Corey Parker very much disagreed.

“Massive call with six minutes remaining,” Parker said.

“In my opinion, Corey Harawira-Naera was trying to get a penalty, he got one. To suggest that O’Sullivan deserves 10 in the bin for what we just saw is ridiculous. It’s a real hard done by call in my opinion against the Dolphins.”

Flanagan said it was “maybe a penalty” and that he agreed with Parker.

But the Dolphins finished the match with the points after Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow scored in the 78th minute after young half Isaiya Katoa put the fullback over to snatch the points.

After the match, both Dolphins captain Jesse Bromwich and coach Wayne Bennett hit back at the call.

“I thought it was pretty surprising, from what I could see, he just went to turn and brace, they said he made contact with the head, but I don’t think there was any intention with it,” Bromwich said. “The rest is history really.”

But Bennett took aim at the decision, while also saying he believe the sin binning of Young was harsh.

“As for the sin binning (of O’Sullivan), I’m not really sure where that was all going,” Bennett said. “He couldn’t get out of his way. He kicked the ball in a bad position running flat out at Sean (O’Sullivan).

“If there was head contact, it was an absolute accident. At no stage was Sean try to tackle him. It was just two players making a collision. And at the end of the day the sport is a collision game and they’ve got to recognise that.”

O'Sullivan couldn't believe it. Photo: Fox Sports

Bennett said it was a huge price to pay at the other end when Hudson Young was sin binned minutes earlier for not being square at marker.

He said it should have been a penalty but not a sin bin.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart didn’t want to be drawn into the discussion over the sin bins in the final 11 minutes but praised the Dolphins’ start to the season.

Twitter also erupted over the sin bin.

Wow!! That was a soft penalty.
Hard shot or gamesmanship??#NRLDolphinsRaiders

— Ashton Sims (@ashtonsims26) March 11, 2023

Terrible call by the ref on Sean O’sullivans sin bin!! #NRLDolphinsRaiders

— Lote Tuqiri 🇫🇯🇦🇺 (@LoteTuqiri) March 11, 2023

That is a ridiculous sin bin. Crazy.#NRLDolphinsRaiders

— Rhys O'Neill (@Rhys_ONeill_) March 11, 2023

That’s a joke sin bin for O’Sullivan, Deary me #NRLDolphinsRaiders

— Luke McGarry (@LukeMcGarry7) March 11, 2023

It was another brilliant win for the Dolphins who are on the top of the NRL ladder with three games to play.

Wayne Bennett even cracked a smile or two. Photo: Fox Sports

Even Bennett was stifling a smile when he entered the press conference.

“Don’t tell anyone you’ve seen me looking happy, otherwise I won’t speak to you again,” Bennett said.

When speaking after the game, Bennett was short with his answers.

Asked about the comeback, he said: “Only special teams can do those sort of things.”

When followed up with, questions about the key to comeback, Bennett said: “Just refusing to give in.”

Originally published as ‘Ridiculous’: NRL ‘joke’ slammed as Dolphins enter record books