Brisbane debutant Ashleigh Werner made history in her first NRLW game – just not the kind she would have hoped for.
Werner became the first player to be sent off in the league’s history, given her marching orders for biting the arm of an opponent.
The rookie winger appeared to clamp her mouth around the arm of Roosters winger Jayme Fressard during a tackle on Saturday night.
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She was called out by the referee and sent off, her NRLW debut ending in tears as she watched her Broncos be beaten 36-18 by the Chooks in their season opener.
Retired NRLW star Allana Ferguson conceded the send-off was a fair penalty.
“It’s a hard one, because (Fressard) had her arm over her mouth for an extended period of time,” Ferguson said on Nine.
“But, I mean, that shot there speaks volumes.”
Speaking after the game, Phil Gould pointed out Fressard’s reaction may have contributed to the send-off, but wasn’t critical of it.
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“(Werner) has her mouthguard in, so I’m not sure how much it would have hurt,” Gould said on Nine.
“But if she’s taken a nip on the arm that’s something that has to be discouraged, and it’s one of the things that footballers do hate. They hate (eye) gouging and they hate biting.
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“Footballers don’t like that, so (Fressard) has reacted quickly… they don’t like that sort of action and that’s why she reported it.”
Werner’s fate now rests with the match review committee, which is likely to charge her on Sunday.
In the NRL a bite has been punished with a four-game ban in the past, but the NRLW season is much shorter than the men’s.
Aside from the send-off, the Roosters outclassed the Broncos, with gun centre Jess Sergis scoring two tries and setting up another, while star recruit Millie Boyle was impressive.
“The Roosters are the team to beat,” Darren Lockyer said on Nine.
“Millie Boyle was outstanding, and so was Jess Sergis.”
The Roosters take on the Raiders in round two, while the Broncos take on the Titans.
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