Tensions boiled over at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night when a brawl broke out on the bench during the State of Origin.
Queensland and New South Wales were battling it out for the series in Brisbane and during a closely contested opening 30 minutes, the contest exploded after a clash between Daly Cherry-Evans and Jarome Luai.
Luai and Cherry-Evans were seen pushing each other in the face before teammates from both sides piled on and the fight spilled onto the bench with players on the benches getting involved.
Referee Ashley Klein did not allow this to happen and subsequently sent Jeremiah Nanai to the penalty box for his part in the fight.
Cameron Murray, who wasn’t even playing when the incident occurred, was sent off, meaning Mitch Barnett was forced to sacrifice himself for ten minutes.
But the referee’s response did not satisfy Nine’s commentary team, with Andrew Johns describing the penalties as “the biggest overreaction in Origin history”.
A furious Cherry-Evans called for a red card against Murray, but football fans saw the incident differently and suggested the Maroons legend emerged unscathed.
“DCE got away with it all very well,” one fan said. “He’s the one who caused it all. This is a joke.”
More to follow.
