League enthusiasts were bemused when Sea Eagles winger Jason Saab received a penalty for a seemingly minor mid-air contact with Alofiana Khan-Pereira. The incident occurred just before halftime in a match between the Titans and Manly on the Gold Coast, as both players leapt to contest a kick from Daly Cherry-Evans.
Initially, Saab appeared to misjudge his jump and, in a bid to avoid a harder impact, inadvertently brushed against Khan-Pereira. This contact resulted in Khan-Pereira mishandling the ball, which was followed by a bobble from Reuben Garrick, leading to a double knock-on. Despite this, Lachlan Croker managed to ground the ball.
Following the play, referee Peter Gough referred the decision to the Bunker for verification of the double knock-on. However, Bunker official Chris Butler identified Saab’s light contact as a breach, stating that Saab had interfered with Khan-Pereira’s chance to catch the ball, justifying the penalty call.
The decision sparked controversy, with Cherry-Evans describing it as “outrageous.” Phil Gould, providing commentary for Nine, expressed confusion and exasperation over the ruling, likening it to another contentious sin-binning incident involving Brian To’o during State of Origin I. Brad Fittler countered this, noting the stark difference in the nature of the contacts, emphasising that Saab’s contact was minimal.
Gould further expressed frustration, questioning the reasoning behind the referees’ focus on such trivial contacts, suggesting it detracts from how the game should be officiated. The first half proved challenging for the Sea Eagles, who had initially scored first through Garrick, only to watch the Titans surge ahead with three tries in quick succession, establishing a 16-4 lead within 20 minutes.