Tom Flegler is set to face the match review committee following a sin-bin incident during the Dolphins’ match against the Warriors, where he was involved in an off-the-ball collision with Ali Leiataua. The incident occurred midway through the second half, with the Dolphins leading 18-14. Flegler, while defending against a centre, misjudged his timing when attempting to rush in to tackle Leiataua, resulting in a head clash.
Despite Flegler’s immediate remorse after the incident, tempers flared as Warriors players, particularly Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, confronted Flegler. Following the clash, both teams engaged in a heated confrontation, which led to Flegler’s sin-bin.
Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach, speaking on Fox League, commented that it appeared the clash was accidental and attributed it to Flegler’s poor positioning. Earlier in the game, Warriors player Mitch Barnett was also ruled out due to a knock, entering the NRL’s mandated 11-day stand-down period. Barnett has faced a challenging season, returning late from an ACL injury only to suffer a thumb fracture.
The incident leading to Barnett’s exit occurred in the 45th minute when he collided with team-mate Chanel Harris-Tavita while making contact with Trai Fuller. Barnett was left dazed on the field, sustaining a cut on his forehead, which suggested a category one head injury assessment (HIA) would be likely. In contrast, Harris-Tavita was unscathed and quickly rose after the clash.
In addition to these injuries, the match was marked by further chaos, including Jake Averillo dislocating a finger, and Leka Halasima being put on report for a shoulder charge. Watene-Zelezniak is also awaiting a judiciary review regarding a hip-drop tackle.
Ultimately, the Warriors clinched a narrow victory with a final score of 20-18, leaving the future match involvement of both Flegler and Barnett uncertain as they deal with the consequences of their respective incidents on the field.