23 February 2024 , 22:22
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Nu Brown’s incredulous red card united Rugby League tonight - leaving EVERYONE mystified.
The Hull hooker was sent off after an accidental clash of heads when tackling Warrington’s Ben Currie in the 36th minute. Under strict new rules on head contact, you would expect a penalty. But the Kiwi was dismissed causing outrage across the sport from fans and players alike.
Hull boss Tony Smith said: “We were right in that game until some big decisions were made. I’ve been around for a while and you think you've seen it all - until you haven’t. There’s some really strange things happening at the moment. Nu didn’t realise he’d got a red card. He thought he was sin-binned. He was asking when he can go back out. He was gobsmacked.”
The Super League season is only two weeks old but it’s already been dominated by headlines over a card frenzy amid the RFL crackdown. And even Warrington fans - who celebrated a first win under new boss Sam Burgess - felt some sympathy for their depleted opponents. Hull, already missing 14 players, were level 6-6 at that point after Lewis Martin’s try had cancelled out Danny Walker’s opener.
And Tony Smith’s spirited young side were causing some problems against a Warrington outfit struggling without England captain George Williams, the stand-off who’s nursing an ankle issue which could sideline him for four weeks.
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However, with a blooded Currie forced off, Josh Thewlis slotted the second of his six goals for a lead they’d never relinquish. Matty Ashton scored a rare penalty try on 43 minutes after Tex Hoy went high on the England winger forcing a knock-on as he aimed for the line.
But that only infuriated Hull more as Liam Sutcliffe had been denied by Thewlis in the same corner in the first half by a high tackle that didn’t even warrant a penalty. There’s little wonder players are understood to be considering taking strike action if issues continue. Jack Walker did reply for Hull but ex-Wigan hooker Sam Powell quickly got Wolves back on track with his first try for the club and Toby King added a fourth.
Warrington's Ben Currie with his head wound after Nu Brown's head clash (PA)Powell, though, was shown yellow himself after Walker slipped into his tackle and was caught high in the 65th minute. It did not stop the hosts finishing off with a flurry as James Harrison completed a slick handling move and Connor Wrench also crossed with the final play. Hull, who were beaten 22-0 at home to Hull KR in their opener, can hold their heads high in the circumstances.
Morgan Smith marshalled them well before they were reduced to 12 men. But Warrington, with Paul Vaughan excellent up front, were always going to have too much. On the red card, Burgess said: “There is controversy there. But they’re the rules now. They’re not going to change. We just have to get on with it.
“I don’t know what Nu Brown can do and it’s hard. It’s innocuous. It’s minimal contact. But it’s head to head contact. And Ben’s got a deep cut, about six stitches. As for us, we were better in some aspects. We played better against 12 men than we did last week. It's still early."
Hull KR have forked out a fee to sign Ben Reynolds just months after the stand-off left Challenge Cup holders Leigh for part-timers Featherstone.