NRL Fans Divided As Huge Hit Sees South Sydney Star Sin Binned

When it happened, it looked like one of the best tackles of the NRL season so far.

But unfortunately for Jaydn Su'A, it didn't take long for the dreaded Bunker to intervene.

Last night, Rabbitohs forward Su'A was sent to the sin bin for "forceful contact to the head" during a massive hit on Canterbury Bulldogs star Lachlan Lewis.

With the Doggies leading 8-0 with just under 20 minutes remaining in the first half, Lewis picked up the ball near the 40-metre line with numbers to his left.

Instead of flicking off a pass to his teammates, Lewis hesitated slightly and held onto possession.

Slowing down with the ball in his hands, the Canterbury half was instantly met with a huge tackle from the Bunnies' bulldozing forward Su'A which dropped him.

Lewis slowly picked himself up from the ANZ Stadium turf but looked very wobbly as he tried to keep his balance.

"He's been skewered by Su'A," said commentator Breton Speed.

"He's a powerhouse the former Bronco!"

Co-commentator Greg Alexander soon chimed in: "I know that Sam Burgess absolutely loves Jaydn Su'A and just how aggressive he is.

"That was a bone-rattler on Lachlan Lewis".

Clearly concussed from the rattling shot, Lewis was quickly attended to by Bunnies hooker Damien Cooker and a number of his Bulldogs teammates.

While the sight of Lewis looking very dazed and confused painted a pretty damning picture of the tackle itself, it was assumed by many that Souths would receive possession following the knock-on.

But it wasn't to be.

Referee Ashley Klein was soon alerted to the incident by Henry Perenara in the Bunker.

Upon review, it was judged that Su'A had made "forceful contact to the head" of Lewis and Klein wasted no time in sin binning the Bunnies star.

The call sparked debate among NRL fans, including the game commentators themselves.

Fox League

"Oh wow," said Alexander as Su'A was given his marching orders.

"It was not a shoulder charge and that isn't why he's been sent off because he tackled front on them with his arms out.

"I thought the contact was on the shoulder of Lachlan Lewis. From what we've seen, it's hard to see from the side-on.

"From the front on it does seem like it might have been shoulder but also contact with the head.

"They'll have better angles to look at when they review it and decide whether he needs to be charged with something."

Meanwhile, Speed perhaps summed up the incident best.

"From one of the shots of the season to 10 minutes in the bin," he said.

"I think the damage is done when Lewis hits the deck."

Su'A and South Sydney now face a nervous wait to see whether he'll be charged for the monster hit.

Topics: Sin bin, Rugby League, nrl, Australia

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry