NRL 2023: New Zealand Warriors win 30-8 over Dolphins, Euan Aitken avoids sin bin for possible hip drop tackle

Experts were left scratching their heads after a Dolphins star avoided a penalty for a possible hip drop tackle, while another two players will be sweating on the match review committee.

Euan Aitken avoided an penalty for a possible hip drop tackle on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Picture: Fox League.

Shaun Johnson produced his best game of the year to help the Warriors beat the Dolphins 30-8 on Saturday, but there could be some major fallout from the contest with several acts of foul play set to be investigated by the match review committee.

While Johnson starred with two tries, it was a different story for veteran five-eighth Anthony Milford who faces a nervous wait for the charges to drop after he was sent to the sin bin for a late shot on Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya.

The contact was very late and caused Montoya’s head to rock back which could see Milford miss the next few games, with the Warriors crossing twice while he was off the field.

Euan Aitken avoids a penalty for a possible hip drop tackle on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Picture: Fox League.

There was plenty more drama with Dolphins prop Jarrod Wallace placed on report for a shoulder charge on Rocco Berry who was knocked out in the tackle as a result of a head clash.

“He’s a bit groggy but he’s okay at this stage,” Warriors coach Andrew Webster said.

“There was obviously a head clash, but there was also something that had to do with the shoulder.

“I certainly don’t think he meant to hit him in the head.”

Referee Grant Atkins was praised for how he handled the situation, but the experts weren’t as impressed when Dolphins centre Euan Aitken got away with what they thought was a hip-drop tackle on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak late in the first half.

The Warriors winger was in agony after his leg was trapped in the tackle, but the referee and Bunker had no issue with it and allowed play to continue, much to the chagrin of Cooper Cronk.

“I’m perplexed,” the Fox League analyst said.

“DWZ has got momentum and has gone through the tackle. Aitken has lost the tackle, turned around and lost his feet, and his weight has fallen on his ankle.

“From what we’ve been used to, that’s a sin bin.”

Ten in the bin for Anthony Milford for this late tackle! 😬

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DEPTH TESTED

The Dolphins have defied the odds all season but they’re going to have to dig even deeper after their injury list worsened on a costly afternoon across the ditch.

They were already without Origin duo Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (rested) and Tom Gilbert (shoulder), and they suffered another massive setback before kick-off when star dummy-half Jeremy Marshall-King was ruled out with an AC joint complaint.

Things didn’t get any better with centre Brenko Lee limping off in the first half, while impressive back-rower Connelly Lemuelu clashed heads with Watene-Zelezniak and didn’t return.

Their depth will be tested if a couple of their players are charged, with discipline becoming a bit of a concern given they’re already without the suspended Felise Kaufusi.

“We’ve had a lot of injuries this year and a lot of top players out at different times, but we’ve overcome that,” Wayne Bennett said.

“We’ve got on with that so we’re not using it as an excuse.”