‘Worst call ever’: NRL world revolts as Harry Grant sin binned in farcical scenes

The NRL world was left dumbfounded after Storm captain Harry Grant was sin binned in utterly farcical scenes no one could believe.

The NRL world has been left in shock after Melbourne Storm captain Harry Grant was sin binned in controversial scenes at AAMI Park.

The incident led to a try to make it 12-all at half-time but the Sharks continued the ambush, beating the Storm 25-18, ending a nine-game winning streak for Melbourne at AAMI Park.

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With just under five minutes left in the first half of the top of the table clash, Sharks five-eighth Daniel Atkinson went to put in a clearing kick from inside his own half.

Grant went to make an effort to put pressure on the kicker and barely touched the young half’s leg.

As has become the rule in the NRL in 2024, any contact will result in a penalty and this was no different.

Michael Ennis said it was “a real misdemeanour in the game that they don’t like”.

Dan Ginnane said it was “zero tolerance”.

When the crowd watched the replay, the booing rained down on the field.

But the crowd was about to go off after Grant was then sent to the sin bin.

It was a moment that even left Grant in disbelief.

“That look from Harry Grant tells you everything you need to know,” Ginnane said.

Harry Grant's face says it all. Photo: Fox Sports

He even said there was a “little wink” from Atkinson, a former Storm player, when Grant ran from the field.

Post-game, Grant said he was planning to challenge the call “which would have been the worst challenge in history”.

“I guess they’ve set that now,” he said. “I had no eyes for Atko or putting that type of pressure on, I was pulling myself away from dangerous contact and just clipped his leg.

“I understand I put him in a dangerous position and I put our team under the pump and paid the price. Unfortunately it cost us.”

The Sharks scored immediately to make it 12-all at halftime, much to the displeasure of the crowd.

Ginnane said the incident was “the definitive line in the sand”.

“That’s it, any contact, as middling as it seems, whether you like it or not, that’s the game we play,” Ginnane said.

The act came in to clearest focus when Souths half Lachlan Ilias broke his leg last month but it’s been something the NRL has been trying to stamp down on for some time.

At halftime, the crowd erupted, hurling abuse at referee Grant Atkins as he left the field, despite taking his advice from the Bunker.

Speaking on Fox League, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said: “It’s unintentional but the game’s set a precedent, you just can’t touch the leg of an opposition kicker.”

Cooper Cronk added the call was “black and white”.

There was barely any contact in the play. Photo: Fox Sports

He said it was similar to the Bromwich penalty on Thursday night.

“Yes it’s high, yes it’s contact but there’s zero intent, hardly any aggression in it. It is the world we live in at the moment,” Cronk said.

The reaction was swift from the fans.

Wally Lewis’ son, radio host Mitch Lewis posted: “That Harry Grant sin binning is one of the most embarrassing for the game I’ve ever seen.”

On ABC Radio, former Storm star Ryan Hoffman said: “What has happened to rugby league?”, adding “there needs to be some common sense when it comes to the interpretation of the rules.”

SEN’s Dominic Criniti said: “We might’ve just witnessed two of the all-time worst calls in NRL history, genuinely Harry Grant being sent to the bin could be the worst call ever.”

Sports reporter Trent Masenhelder said: “That Harry Grant penalty and sin bin is an absolute disgrace. One of the worst decisions I have seen at a live sporting event. Just horrendous.”

Another fan posted: “I turned the tv off instantly. Absolutely pathetic.”

Another commented: “0.00001% of the population thought that was a sin bin for Harry Grant. Unfortunately that 0.00001% were making the decision.”

The Storm scored immediately after the break but the Storm replied in the 68th minute through Tyran Wishart.

A penalty put the Sharks in good field position late and Atkinson booted the game-winning field goal, before the Sharks turned a short kickoff into a 60m runaway try for Siosifa Talakai for the cherry on top.

Originally published as ‘Worst call ever’: NRL world revolts as Harry Grant sin binned in farcical scenes