Brisbane Broncos’ Patrick Carrigan is under scrutiny after committing a high tackle during a match against the Cowboys on Friday night, potentially facing action from the NRL match review committee. The incident occurred in the first half when Carrigan tackled Cowboys winger Zac Laybutt forcefully, prompting referee Ashley Klein to award a penalty immediately.
Commentator Johnathan Thurston was taken aback, exclaiming, “Oh my goodness,” as replays revealed that Carrigan’s shoulder made direct contact with Laybutt’s head. As a result of the tackle, Carrigan was sin-binned for ten minutes, with no objections raised by either him or the commentators. Former player Cameron Smith remarked on the clarity of the ruling, stating that Carrigan had misjudged his target area.
Carrigan’s potential suspension would add to the Broncos’ woes, as they are already missing key players Ben Hunt and Reece Walsh due to injuries.
In the match itself, which took place at Suncorp Stadium, Kotoni Staggs opened the scoring for Brisbane with a clever grubber kick from the replacement halfback. The Cowboys responded with a break from Scott Drinkwater, who teamed up with Jaxon Purdue to score after sprinting from deep in their own territory. Thurston praised Purdue’s speed, noting his recent commitment to a long-term $3 million contract with the Cowboys, while speculation surrounds Drinkwater’s future with the team.
With Carrigan sidelined, Laybutt took advantage of the situation and put the Cowboys ahead as they capitalised on the Broncos’ one-man disadvantage. The match demonstrated the intense competition and the significant impact of disciplinary decisions on game flow.