Sending players off after a scrap in the Origin march could have had a serious outcome on the match. Photo / Getty Images
Sending four players to the sinbin during the second State of Origin match in Brisbane was a farce and I can only hope the new edict that caused it is scrapped, or heavily reviewed, before we see any embarrassing repeats.
Luckily for all concerned, Queensland were well on the way
to victory when two players from each side were yellow-carded under a new get-tough directive from David Smith, who heads the ARL's commission that runs the game in Australia.
Three of the dismissals were, without doubt, incorrect and in a close game it might have decided the contest, which would have resulted in all hell breaking loose.
If it was up to me, the directive would be ditched and the handling of violent incidents left to the discretion of the referees, using the existing rules. The one punch and you are off rule is too black and white. The referees must have felt pressured on Wednesday night, fearing they would get a giant black mark against their names if they ignored the powers above.
If it does remain, there must be more sensible use of the video referee to help judge those situations, to avoid wrong decisions such as the ones that marred a fabulous Origin match.
