‘Should have been sent’: Fans rage as ‘brutal’ hit divides NRL

An ugly hit from Sharks forward Briton Nikora has divided fans, with many claiming he was lucky to only earn 10 minutes in the bin.

NRL fans have blasted Briton Nikora, after the Cronulla Sharks forward was sin binned for an ugly hit just five minutes in his side’s clash with the Canterbury Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs had a horror start when front rower Poasa Faamausili suffered a head clash from the first hit up of the game, knocking himself out of the game as the side’s front row stocks were exposed even further.

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Just five minutes into the match Viliame Kikau ran down the short side and got the ball into Stephen Crichton’s hands.

But in a moment that was missed as the camera followed the promising play, Nikora was caught delivering a shoulder charge which appeared to hit Kikau high.

Bunker official Todd Smith reviewed the tackle as the game moved on for several tackles and had no choice but to bring it back.

On-field referee Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski stopped the clock and called out Nikora, sitting him for 10 minutes to the bafflement of the commentators.

Upon replay, it became very obvious why the referee had taken the action.

“Oh boy, oh boy,” Andrew Voss said on Fox League. “I can see why he (Smith) watched multiple replays.

“It looks a send off. I think he’ll be relieved he’s only there for 10 minutes.”

“That is brutal,” Steve Roach added.

It's not a good look from Nikora. Photo: Fox Sports

In good news for the Bulldogs, Kikau was alright and continued to play, but it sparked debate on social media whether Nikora was lucky not to be sent off as it was deemed “forceful contact to the head” by the officials.

Martin Devlin, host of NZ’s It’s Only Sport commented: “How the hell can Nikora not be given red for that shoulder?

“In rugby that is an instant red. Not even a second of argument. Automatic red.

“How much longer can league let these hits continue? Til the first CTE class-action lawsuit comes knocking.”

The NRL Bloke X account wrote: “Talk about NOT @NRL_Bulldogs not getting the rub of the green! Nikora’s hit would have been a send off if he hit a halfback, what’s the difference

@NRL?”

The SuperCoach Whisperer added: “Nikora extremely lucky to only get 10 in the bin. Disgusting behaviour.”

Another fan argued: “If Nikora did that with 10 minutes left in the game the ref would’ve sent him off. They’ve bottled it because of how early it happened.”

Another suggested “Nikora should have been sent. Each replay just gets worse,” while another called it “awful”.

Nikora given his marching orders. Photo: Fox Sports

The brutal hit was far from the only talking point from the first half as the sides went to the break 6-all.

Both sides had plenty of opportunities to score while errors have been few and far between.

A controversial moment appeared to have robbed the Bulldogs when referee Przeklasa-Adamski got in the way of Sharks half Connor Tracey as Kikau dived over the line, denying the Bulldogs a golden early chance.

The Dogs were denied another try when winger Blake Wilson, who was looking for a first half double, put a foot on the sideline before planting the ball.