In yet another controversial decision at the start of the Super League season, Hull FC star Fa’amanu Brown was sent off against Warrington Wolves in Round Two.
Brown was involved in a tackle on Ben Currie. The Warrington forward spun in the tackle and collided heads with the Hull FC halfback Fa’amanu Brown.
Currie bled a lot after the incident which many just saw as an accident and not even a penalty but because of the new rules, Brown was sent off for head on head contact which was deemed as forceful with no mitigating circumstances.
Later in the game we would see mitigating circumstances save Sam Powell from a red card as he made his Warrington Wolves home debut after his move from Wigan Warriors.
He hit Jack Walker head high but due to the rapid descent of Walker, Powell avoided a red and was sin binned but Brown was not afforded the same luxury and was sent off in a moment that would see Warrington take an 8-6 lead and ultimately kick on.
Jon Wilkin slams “sloppy” application or rules in Hull FC clash
Speaking on Sky Sports after the red card incident, pundit Jon Wilkin said that it was sloppy application of the rules by the official saying: “Right, there is a real mismatch between wanting to protect the players’ welfare and reducing head contact and then really sloppy application of that that’s sloppy application of the rule.”
He went on to add: “You’ve not chosen to apply that rule that effectively. Last night James Donaldson’s kicked someone off his feet in the head if you get a look at it. Right, for Manon Brown, slightly touches Ben Currie’s head and it’s the red card so we have to echo the frustration to people.”
The incident Wilkin was referring to of course was the sin binning of James Donaldson for Leeds Rhinos against Hull FC’s bitter rivals Hull KR on Thursday night.
He hit Oliver Gildart with a swinging arm but it was determined that there were mitigating circumstances with the centre dropping. The same was said of Leeds teammate Sam Lisone as well.
