‘Absolute joke’: NRL erupts as Roger Tuivasa-Sheck controversially sin binned as history rewritten

NRL fans and commentators are at a loss after the latest controversy erupted amid historic scenes on the Gold Coast.

The Gold Coast Titans have rewritten their record books in a 66-6 thrashing of the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday afternoon.

The Warriors, who made the preliminary final last year, appeared to be a shadow of their former selves as the Titans claimed both the biggest win and biggest total in the club’s history.

The previous record for biggest win was a 44-0 over the Warriors in 2021, while the side has tallied 44 points four times in its history.

In fact, it’s the highest score by any Gold Coast franchise in first-grade rugby league history.

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Even Kieran Foran had four try assists, a feat he hadn’t achieved since 2011.

Jayden Campbell set a new club record of points in a match with a 26-point tally, thrashing the previous record of 20 held by Scott Prince since 2009.

For the visitors, there’s no way to avoid it — they were deplorable.

But while the Warriors spent most of the day looking for a hole to hide in, fans were stunned when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was sin binned with 27 minutes remaining for what appeared to just be a strong tackle.

Going one-on-one with Campbell, Tuivasa-Sheck lifted the Titans five-eighth, with referee Adam Gee blowing a penalty immediately.

It didn't look that dangerous. Photo: Fox Sports

While it was ruled above the horizontal, Fox League commentator Matt Russell wasn’t convinced.

“Only just if at all,” he said. “Your silence says 1000 words Corey (Parker).”

Parker said: “He got him in the point of dangerous …” before Gee called Tuivasa-Sheck out.

“Going to put him on report is he?” Steve Roach asked.

Gee did put the Warriors centre on report, but then sent him for a 10 minute sit down.

“What?” Roach said.

“Sin binned for a dangerous tackle that plenty are asking was it even dangerous,” Russell exclaimed.

“That’s a big call,” a stunned Parker said.

The call reportedly came from Bunker official Kasey Badger who ruled it “a high risk of injury”.

While it didn’t effect the result as the Titans were already 36-0 up and the game was beyond doubt, Roach labelled it “a tough call”.

Parker added: “It’s an enormous call. The frustration we see, especially from fans, is the inconsistencies in and around that space.”

Wow. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Tuivasa-Sheck couldn't really believe it. Photo: Fox Sports

And that frustration was clear.

Fox League’s Warren Smith posted: “Two hip drops and neither play sin-binned, but then RTS goes for 10 for a tackle with perfect technique but the player lands on his back. Which is bad in 2024.”

Both Campbell and Te Maire Martin avoided being sent off but were put on report for hip-drop tackles in the first half.

The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie wrote simply: “Seriously.....”

WWOS’ The Mole commented: “RTS sin bin embarrassing though … bunker clueless.”

The NRL Bloke account posted: “RTS sin binned for that? Wow bunker bunker bunker!”

“I was enjoying watching the Titans win until Campbell’s blatant hip drop that didn’t result in a sin bin but RTS was sin binned for a good hard tackle where the player only landed on his back,” one fan wrote.

Another said: “That’s one hell of a soft sin bin for RTS “dangerous tackle”. Laughable, actually. Rugby league is now almost rugby union.”

A third opined: “The Wahs are horrible today, but that sin binning of RTS is a disgrace.”

A fourth raged: “RTS send off is an absolute JOKE! Adam gee is the worse ref in comp ( yes the worst ) NRL is becoming laughable.”

Another fan said the NRL are “absolutely kidding themselves”, while another labelled it “embarrassing”.

Other fans questioned whether it was even deserving of a penalty.

It was all one-way traffic for the Titans, who led 30-0 at halftime.

Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored four tries for the second time for the Titans, having achieved the feat last year, while fullback Keano Kini had three line breaks, ran a game-high 234m, had a try assist and scored two tries himself.

What a day for the Titans. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Campbell also stunned in the halves after Titans coach Des Hasler was forced to jump to his defence midweek.

Questions arose about his ability to play in the halves but he showed exactly what he could do in the record thrashing.

“What a performance it has been from Jayden Campbell,” Fox Sports commentator and former Brisbane player Parker said.

“He is a footballer and a wonderful player who is still in the infancy of his NRL career. He has just played football and played what he has seen.”

Titans captain Foran said he didn’t see the blowout performance coming and praised Campbell’s ability to dominate under pressure.

“(Campbell) is a special player isn’t he. He has been building over the last couple of weeks. He has taken that No. 6 with both hands. His full set of skills were on show.”

With Thomas Boswell, Newswire