NRL divided as Wade Graham sin binned for ‘best hit I’ve seen in years’

Sharks veteran Wade Graham has delivered one of the biggest hits fans have seen in ages but landed in the sin bin for his trouble.

Wade Graham had the big hit but was ultimately sin binned for it. Photo: Fox Sports

South Sydney have flexed their muscles in round one, beating the Sharks 27-18 in Cronulla.

The Rabbitohs are considered among the favourites for the premiership in 2023 and showed why against a tough but Dally M winner Nicho Hynes-less Sharks.

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The Rabbitohs didn’t have it all their own way by any means, having lost both Jai Arrow and Tavita Tatola early in the game.

But with 15 minutes remaining and Souths leading 20-12, the Sharks’ Wade Graham obliterated Rabbitohs prop Davvy Moale with a monster hit.

Nothing was done immediately after the hit and the Rabbitohs scored at the end of the set of six, taking the lead out to an unassailable 26-12.

But as Latrell Mitchell was lining up the kick at goal, the attention returned to the hit.

“We’re only one round in, but that was the biggest hit I’ve seen in a long time,” Greg Alexander said on Fox Sports. “My god. That was one hell of a shot from Wade Graham.”

Dan Ginnane added: “How did he hold onto it? That’s chest Brandy isn’t it? Surely it’s fine.”

Alexander said: “I thought it was ball and chest.”

But moments later, the Sharks veteran was called out and given 10 in the bin for after he was deemed to have “left the ground and had contact with the head”.

Alexander said it knowned Moale’s head back but Ginnane said: “It was a car crash.”

Is that too high? Photo: Fox Sports

Huge hit from Wade Graham. Photo: Fox Sports

It was the second sin bin of the day after Bulldogs halfback Kyle Flanagan was sin binned after he appeared to barely brush the back of Tom Trbojevic’s jersey.

The Graham hit also divided fans with some believing he deserved the send of

Bulldogs legend Willie Mason tweeted: “Wade Graham just put on one of the best hit’s I’ve seen for years! PROPER DAAAWWG.”

The Illawarra Mercury’s Tim Barrow added: “Wade Graham and Kyle Flanagan got binned today for extreme contact and minimal contact. Funny game, rugba lerg.”

Wade Graham sin binned for a good hit wasn’t even in the head the bunker is cooked #NRLSharksSouths

— Nick From Australia (@Nickybear2K17) March 4, 2023

Wade Graham sinned binned for this.
Turn it up NRL.
Was a great hit…#NRLSharksRabbitohspic.twitter.com/USBeda0CZ9

— Rugby League Best Tries Hits and Biffs (@NBiffs) March 4, 2023

Coach Craig Fitzgibbon said it was “spectacular” but any extra issues from the incident will “be what it will be”.

Captain Dale Finucane said: “The hit looked really good, but I wasn’t sure that he hit him high. From my first glance at it, I didn’t think it was high. But on review, it’ll be clear whether it was or it wasn’t.

“Wade was looking to change the momentum and cause a collision to get the ball back for us. I think any player in any team would look to do that.”

Fox League’s Cooper Cronk said the problem comes that Graham’s feet left the ground.

“He took his feet of the ground and made contact,” Cronk said.

“I think that might be the thing that comes back and hurts him but I don’t think it’s at the severe end.”

Great performance from the Rabbitohs. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

It wasn’t enough to close the door on the Sharks however as the Sharks hit back through Teig Wilton who timed his run perfectly to latch onto a Matt Moylan grubber and make it 26-18.

It was as close as the Sharks would get though as Latrell Mitchell sealed the game with a field goal.