'What an overreaction': Brad Fittler fumes as two stars sin-binned in drama-filled Magic Round clash
Updated . First published at
Broncos workhorse Patrick Carrigan and Warriors flyer Alofiana Khan-Pereira were both sin-binned in a drama-filled game on Sunday afternoon dominated by the New Zealand club, who smashed Brisbane 42-12.
Carrigan was marched to the sin bin by referee Ashley Klein for a professional foul against Warriors forward Jackson Ford in the 27th minute, having spent too much time slowing up the ruck as the Broncos defended their try line.
Carrigan returned from the sin bin and Khan-Pereira was given his marching orders only a minute later in the Magic Round clash, having hit Broncos centre Jesse Arthars high.
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Pat Carrigan walking off and Alofiana Khan-Pereira hitting Jesse Arthars high. Gett, Nine
Khan-Pereira charged in off his wing and hit Arthars with a thud, erring slightly as he did so.
The sin-binning of Khan-Pereira left Brad Fittler fuming.
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"High level of careless – let's add that to the rugby league dictionary. That's what the ref said," Fittler said on Nine.
"Seriously, his hand barely touched his face.
"What an overreaction."
The Warriors had exploded out to a 22-0 lead before the Broncos scored their first points. Brisbane didn't hit the scoreboard until the New Zealand outfit was one man down with Khan-Pereira in the sin bin.
Making matters worse, the Warriors managed to score two tries in the 10-minute period Khan-Pereira was off the field, via Ali Leiataua and Te Maire Martin.
The Warriors were far too strong for Brisbane despite the loss of in-form halfback Tanah Boyd in the seventh minute due to a suspected ACL rupture.
Martin replaced Boyd at halfback and combined superbly with five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita.
Broncos fullback Reece Walsh had a stinker in his final audition for a Queensland spot.
Last year's Clive Churchill Medallist was well contained by the Warriors all afternoon, mustering only 126 metres from 14 carries.
He also made three errors. He knocked the ball on taking a carry in the fourth minute, then put a goal-line drop-out out on the full in the sixth minute.
He went off for a head injury assessment just after the hour mark and gave the independent doctor a gobful as he headed for the tunnel, clearly of the belief he shouldn't have been forced from the field.
It was reported by News Corp prior to the game that Dolphins star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow had beaten Walsh to the Queensland fullback spot for the State of Origin opener.
