In a dramatic turn during the opening game of the State of Origin series, New South Wales saw their stellar first half overshadowed by a contentious decision involving Brian To’o. The incident occurred just before the half-time whistle when To’o was penalised and sent to the sin bin after a challenge on Xavier Coates. Phil Gould called the decision made by the Bunker “ridiculous”.
As the clock ticked down, a kick from Daly Cherry-Evans found Coates, who attempted to dive for the ball. However, To’o’s contact with Coates led to the Bunker intervening to determine if a penalty try should be awarded. Former player Cameron Smith commented, acknowledging the contact: “There’s no doubt he grabs Xavier Coates.” Ultimately, the Bunker ruled To’o’s actions a professional foul, claiming it denied Coates a fair opportunity to score.
To’o’s dismissal allowed Valentine Holmes to convert the resulting penalty goal, granting Queensland their first points of the match just before the break. At half-time, Darren Lockyer, a Queensland legend and current selector, expressed his belief that the call against To’o was excessive. He argued that a professional foul implies intent, suggesting that To’o’s action was an instinctive response rather than a deliberate infringement.
Phil Gould was more scathing in his criticism, labelling the interpretation of the mid-air tackle rule as a significant overreach, asserting that subjecting players to sin bin penalties for such actions in a crucial Origin match is unwarranted.
The incident has prompted discussions around the rules of the game and how they are enforced, particularly in high-stakes situations where the atmosphere is charged. As the series progresses, the ramifications of this call may influence not only player conduct but also officiating standards moving forward.