The red card shown to Hull FC’s Nu Brown against Warrington Wolves has understandably angered fans but to some the situation has become laughable, prompting a former sponsor to joke at the game’s expense.
Brown became the third Hull FC player to be sent off this season and the fifth Super League player to be sent their marching orders when Marcus Griffiths flashed the red card prior to half-time.
The game was tied at 6-6 at that point with the injury-stricken Hull FC putting up a far better fight than many fans had expected, especially given they were without 13 senior players due to injury and suspension.
It was at that stage that the game changed when Warrington’s Ben Currie suffered an innocuous cut around his eye which started to bleed heavily after being tackled.
On second viewing and when slowed down it was revealed that Brown and Currie had bumped heads with the Kiwi hooker spun around in the tackle and accidentally launched into the path of Currie.
For some fans it was a penalty, whereas for some it didn’t even merit that, however, after review from the video referee it was adjudged to be “high force” and “without mitigation” which meant Brown was sent off, something that even surprised Currie as he revealed on social media.
For many though it marked a line in the sand with the rules going too far, or being interpreted incorrectly, prompting ex-sponsors Specsavers to chirp up.
Specsavers take aim following shocking red card
Some fans will recall that Specsavers used to be the shirt sponsors for the match officials which was always a point of irony and some brilliant advertising by the eyewear company.
They’ve now offered their services to the sport once again following Brown’s controversial red card as they responded to video footage of the incident shared by Sky Sports Rugby League’s social media channels.
Replying to the video, they asked: “Do we need to sponsor rugby league again?”
Their offer was met with laughs but also genuine concern with one fan telling them not to bother as “no one will be watching by the end of the year.”
That’s a thought that Sky Sports presenter Brian Carney echoed last night with the former player claiming that the sport is facing an “existential threat” under its current guise.
Reacting at half-time to the red card, Carney explained: “We know there is a clamp down on head contact and that accidental head contact will be punished, but I cannot support this action in the game.
“If this is a red card in the game, then I’m saying we’ve got an existential threat to the attractiveness of our game.”
There is a genuine threat to the game it would seem with dozens of players taking to social media to react to the red card, those players all following on from Alex Walmsley and Ryan Brierley last week who both called for change.
The biggest advocate for change since last night has been England captain George Williams who has called on players to “unite”, which is a big deal considering the sway Williams will have with the RFL and among his fellow professionals.
Do we need to sponsor rugby league again?
— Specsavers (@Specsavers) February 23, 2024
