Souths star Taane Milne sent off after roundhouse hit on Spencer Leniu

An NRL star has come under heavy fire from several greats after delivering one of the ugliest hits the game has seen in a long time.

Disgusting cheap shot results in send off

The South Sydney Rabbitohs night went from bad to downright disastrous against the Penrith Panthers on Saturday.

After starting the contest in lightning fashion, the Rabbitohs simply couldn’t keep up with the minor premiers when they put the foot down as they raced away to claim the 32-12 win.

Watch every match of the Rugby League World Cup LIVE & Exclusive to Fox Sports, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

As the Panthers edged closer to their third straight Grand Final appearance, Souths star Taane Milne unleashed.

Panthers star Spencer Leniu burst through the Souths line like a wrecking ball and quickly raced towards a fifth straight try.

Standing in his way was fullback Latrell Mitchell, but as Leniu got close it was Milne who came in from his left and delivered the ugly shot.

Milne left his feet and threw a wild roundhouse left arm that landed flush on the forehead of Leniu, the shot left him down on the turf having to be helped back to his feet by Mitchell.

The hit was reviewed upstairs and it didn’t take long for Ashley Klein to give him his marching orders.

“Taane Milne, that is a send off, here we go, Leniu wants a piece of him here,” Michael Ennis said on Fox League.

“Swinging arm straight to the head, he is gone, his feet left the ground, it is a clear send off.”

“Taane Milne was sin binned twice against the Roosters, he is a firecracker Spencer,” Dan Ginnane said.

“Souths are unravelling, straight off Taane Milne, he has ridden his luck all finals series, and the luck has run out.”

As he walked off the field Leniu gave him a verbal spray as trainers got in between the two men to ensure no sideline scuffle broke out.

Milne is the first man to be sent off in an NRL final since way back in 1994.

One of the worst swinging arms we’ve seen in a long time. Absolute shocker from Milne. Deservedly sent off and will be spending a few weeks on the sideline #nrl#nrlfinalspic.twitter.com/zIHPo7SUuw

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) September 24, 2022

Absolutely disgusting from Souths. Had to go. What a cheap shot from Milne. Souths Played that garbage against the Roosters. Won’t get away with it tonight. #NRLPanthersSouths

— Robert Grasso (@RobertGrasso) September 24, 2022

Early shower for Taane Milne… and rightfully so. That was shocking #NRLPanthersSouths

— Michael Atkinson (@kinson88) September 24, 2022

“It was awful and stupid and it puts everyone under pressure and just eleviates any sort of comeback,” Corey Parker said on Fox’s post-game show.

NRL hardman Gordon Tallis was dumbfounded by the hit.

“Seriously, that got outlawed in 1980. If he says that he’s not thinking then it’s even worse,” Tallis said.

Braith Anasta added: “It's just so careless.”

The Panthers flexed their muscles in the late stages of the first half before continuing the dominance in the second half.

It sets up a blockbuster showdown next weekend against the Parramatta Eels as the Panthers advance to their third straight Grand Final.

The Panthers now join the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters as the only two clubs to reach the Grand Final in three-straight seasons in the NRL era.