‘Just lashed out’: Knights firebrand sin binned for wild face slap on Panthers rival

A Newcastle Knights enforcer was sin binned yet again after slapping a Panthers opponent in a total brain explosion.

Jack Hetherington's clip on Izack Tago.

Firey Newcastle Knights forward Jack Hetherington found himself in the sin bin once again for a “slap on the earhole” of a Panthers player on Saturday night.

Penrith defeated the Knights 20-12 at BlueBet Stadium on the back of a clinical first half performance from the two-time reigning premiers.

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Dylan Edwards crossed for a try to open the scoring, while Tyrone Peachey scored a double to give the Panthers the lead.

But just on the stroke of halftime, Hetherington was sin binned for lashing out in a tussle with Penrith’s Izack Tago.

Hetherington had completed a tackle on Tago before the Panthers centre gave his opponent a slight shove, which the Knights backrower took exception to.

“Gives him this one, right across the left earhole and the Bunker and the referee are having none of that, and he leaves his team shorthanded,” Warren Smith said in commentary on Fox League.

WATCH THE SIN BIN INCIDENT IN THE VIDEO PLAYER ABOVE

Jack Hetherington's clip on Izack Tago. Photo: Fox Sports.

“That’s poor discipline there from Hetherington. He got a little clip from Tago in the tackle and just lashed out,” Michael Ennis said.

“It was nothing more than a brush from Izack Tago, but he has lashed out has Hetherington.

“He tried to come out to be the enforcer but he has let his emotions get the better of him. That’s a costly one for the away side tonight.”

The Bunker replayed the incident and referee Ben Cummins gave Hetherington his marching orders for a “slap in the face”.

Hetherington is a renowned firebrand and this certainly wasn’t his first rodeo in the sin bin.

In 58 games at four clubs, Hetherington has been sent off once, sin binned five times, suspended six times and spent 15 weeks on the sideline, according to statistician David Middleton.

Jack Hetherington was sent to the sin bin. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

The Panthers were missing five Origin players yet showed off the club’s depth with a physical and clinical win over Newcastle.

Penrith’s first non-completed set happened in the 52nd minute.

Penrith completed 39 of 41 sets for the match while the Knights were tackled only three times in the Knights’ red zone.

In Nathan Cleary’s absence Jack Cogger looked composed, kicked with industry - including a successful chip for Izack Tago on the first tackle - and fed runners inside and out.

When a tackle on runaway Dom Young saw the winger put a foot in touch, the halfback was mobbed by teammates.

Tago was very good, also, running for 221 metres and folding Ponga with a crunching tackle.

While the Panthers went top of the ladder, Newcastle remains rooted to 14th after their third straight loss.

“The Knights disintegrated,” Mal Meninga said in commentary.

— With NCA Newswire