It was a first-ever win in Super League for Sam Burgess last night as his Warrington Wolves side swept away a plucky Hull FC team that had been decimated by injury and suspension.
Tony Smith was without 13 senior players due to an injury crisis and the bans handed to Ligi Sao, Herman Ese’ese and Franklin Pele, but FC look in line for another ban.
That’s because Nu Brown was controversially sent off just before half-time for making head contact with Ben Currie, a decision that ultimately decided the game as FC were outscored 30 points to 6 from that point onwards.
Brown was incredibly unfortunate as he got span around in the tackle and thrust towards Currie with the two clashing heads causing a nasty cut on Currie’s eye.
The Kiwi international has since released a very classy statement calling for fans to stop abusing referee Marcus Griffiths, whilst also calling on changes to the rules.
Warrington Wolves head coach Sam Burgess also had his say after the game and was almost sheepish when asked about the incident, explaining: “We’re going to be talking about this every week.”
“It’s a tough one” – Sam Burgess sympathetic with Nu Brown over red card
Ultimately the red card helped Sam Burgess land his first Super League win because Warrington were really tested in the first-half by a young Hull FC side.
In fact it looked at one point as if it could be a repeat of last week and another loss against a team with 12 men when Hull FC pulled one back early in the second-half.
Warrington did kick on though as they found plenty of success down the middle of the field, their pack beginning to dominate against an inexperienced and tired set of middles for FC.
Speaking to Sky Sports at half time about the sending off, Burgess answered: “It’s a tough one, it’s a really really tough one.
“I feel for Nu, I feel for Hull because I don’t know what you can do about it but it’s just the way the game is going.”
After having secured the win he then spoke with Brian Carney and Jon Wilkin post game and he even admitted that he felt “terrible” about the incident.
Sam Burgess said: “We’re going to be talking about this every week if you ask me. From Nu’s point of view, he can’t do anything about that. It’s innocuous, there’s nothing in it.
“But to the letter of the law, they’ve stuck with it, and it’s a red card. I feel terrible coaching on the other side that that has happened.
“No doubt it’s going to happen to one of my athletes at some point but you can’t avoid that, it’s very hard to avoid.
“I think a common sense approach must come in at some point but it’s extremely hard. As a coach you’re just trying to stay in the guidelines that are there but there needs to be a common sense approach, that’s not an intentional headbutt, it’s a secondary collision.”
