Round eight of the NRL saw a continuation of the ‘sin bin mania’ with Scott Sorensen receiving a 10-minute sitting during the first half of Penrith’s match against Manly. Just before halftime, following a penalty goal by the Sea Eagles, Nathan Brown took the kick-off and was met with a forceful tackle from Sorensen. The Bunker determined that Sorensen had not attempted to wrap his arms, leading to an immediate penalty and his subsequent sin binning by referee Belinda Sharpe.
Commentators had mixed reactions to the incident. Andrew Voss expressed a liking for the collision, while Kevin Walters suggested this was what fans enjoy about the game. Conversely, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga maintained that Sorensen deserved the penalty, acknowledging the tackle had gone awry.
Adding to the tensions of the match, Dylan Edwards was put on report for a trip during the first half, though no further action was taken. Edwards attempted to stop Tommy Talau from scoring but inadvertently tripped him, which fell under the dangerous contact charge. Typically, these infractions result in fines, with players Kotoni Staggs and Phoenix Crossland recently fined for similar actions.
Despite Penrith hosting the match at CommBank Stadium, Manly initiated strong plays with Reuben Garrick scoring early, followed by Talau’s try. A leg-lift penalty against Isaiah Papali’i contributed to a solid 14-0 lead for Manly at halftime. Other incidents, such as Casey McLean being reported for high contact on Tom Trbojevic, compounded the game’s chaos.
The second half saw a resurgence from the Panthers, with Blaize Talagi and Izack Tago both crossing for tries. However, the sin bin saga continued as Siosiua Taukeiaho was also sent off for a high tackle on Papali’i, creating a two-player deficit for Penrith.
Minutes later, Paul Alamoti received a sin bin for a professional foul, which shifted the momentum in Manly’s favour. This advantage compounded as Manly extended their lead to 26-10 with tries from Haumole Olakau’atu and Tolutau Koula following a penalty goal.
The final score saw Manly conclude their three-game losing streak, while multiple players, including Corey Waddell and Isaah Yeo, were put on report for various infractions throughout the match. Phil Gould summarised the night’s chaotic events on social media, reflecting on the unpredictable and turbulent nature of the game.