Manly coach Anthony Seibold doesn’t think the sin-binning of speedster Tolu Koula cost the Sea Eagles victory on Sunday.
But the Manly mentor branded the decision “harsh” in his press conference, while rugby league guru Phil Gould was scathing of the call in the McDonald Jones Stadium match.
Koula was marched to the sin bin after referee Peter Gough deemed the Manly centre had caught Ponga high in the 65th minute of the game, which Newcastle won 28-18.
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While the scoreline was locked at 18-18 when Koula was sin-binned, the Knights led 24-18 when he returned to the paddock. They took advantage of the Sea Eagles being one man down because of a controversial sin-binning.
Ponga’s concerning concussion history may have factored in the sin-bin decision, but the Newcastle co-captain wasn’t ordered from the field for a head injury assessment on this occasion.
“I thought it was a harsh call right, but that’s not why we lost the game,” Seibold said.
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“But I had a look at it on replay and I didn’t think it was a sin-bin … I just didn’t think it was a sin-binning.”
Gould was staggered by the sin-bin call in the final game of round 13.
“Tell me how he’s hit him in the head,” Gould said on Nine’s coverage.
“He hasn’t gone anywhere near hitting him in the head.
“That is a terrible sin-bin, that really is a terrible sin-bin.”
Bullocking Knights winger Greg Marzhew had a brilliant afternoon as Newcastle feasted on Manly’s fragile right edge, crossing for a hat-trick.
The Sea Eagles were without Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans because of State of Origin duties, as well as Jake Trbojevic due to a calf injury, while the Knights were missing Tyson Frizell after his Origin recall.
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