Sky Sports pundits “lost” over St Helens sin bin as RFL offer clarification on controversial call

A controversial sin bin for St Helens has left some of the sport’s leading pundits “lost” whilst the RFL have also offered clarification over the call.

St Helens fell to a third straight defeat as Leeds Rhinos beat them 17-4, registering just their second win in 20 games against the Red Vee as the pair battled it out in the final game of day one of Magic Weekend.

Neither side completely fired but the fast start for Leeds proved enough as St Helens’ attack continued to look clunky amid more changes to the spine, with Jonny Lomax subbed on and Tristan Sailor moving to the wing.

However, it was the actions of Saints’ other winger that grabbed the headlines with Lewis Murphy controversially sent to the sin bin when St Helens were gaining momentum in the game.

Down 10-4 and with 20 minutes to play, Murphy jumped highest to try and claim a high kick but his knee caught the head of stationary defender Alfie Edgell. After a video referee review, it was adjudged that action was worthy of a sin bin, despite it being completely accidental.

Jon Wilkin questions St Helens sin bin as RFL explain controversial call

Understandably that call led to outrage among fans whilst commentator Barrie McDermott was another to criticise it but his opinions paled in contrast to those of Sky Sports’ punditry and presenting team.

Jon Wilkin started the analysis as he highlighted the pivotal moment in the game and admitted to feeling “lost” in regards to disciplinary decisions at the moment, having recently called out the red cards in Leeds Rhinos’ last game.

The ex-Saints skipper said: “I’m not saying it would have sorted the game out for Saints because they’re far from perfect right now, but for me I’m lost when I’m watching our game now.

“I’m a bit lost. I don’t know what decisions are going to come out. ”

When Jamie Jones-Buchanan tried to reason that the RFL are being “dogmatic” over head contact because “there’s a lot of solicitors somewhere who are writing bits on paper that we need to defend against”, Jon Wilkin was having none of it.

“But  Jack Sinfield shoulder charged someone in the head last week and got the same as that which is completely accidental,” Wilkin responded swiftly as he pointed out the stark contrast in actions relative to the fact they both received the same punishment.

The RFL have offered clarification on the decision, stating that it was “direct contact to the head”, accepting that it was “not deliberate but dangerous contact” nonetheless.

“There’s no way that’s a yellow card” ❌

Lewis Murphy is controversially sent to the sin bin for accidentally colliding with Alfie Edgell. pic.twitter.com/mkVsFSWhRS

— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) May 3, 2025

“Alarm bells” over sin bin for Sky Sports pundit

Presenter Brian Carney put forth the argument that it could be a watershed moment for disciplinary matters this season, given how ridiculous the call was.

He stated: “What it smacks of is the Nu Brown incident between Warrington and Hull FC where Brown made head on head head contact and they applied the rules strictly according to the framework.

“Suddenly after that they realised that things like this can happen in a rugby league game and we can’t be red carding people for that so they changed the rules on the following Monday and they said they’d allow referees to use their knowledge of the game to mitigate the sanction to reflect the level of culpability of the players.

“In that instance it was head-on head in the tackle. How can you not look at that as a referee and say that’s just a rugby league incident and that Lewis Murphy is doing nothing wrong.”

Wilkin agreed, labelling the actions of the St Helens winger as “completely accidental” and that wingers contesting high balls and leading with their knees for elevation is a “routine part of the game”.

Pleading that it should be a penalty and nothing more, with Carney adding that it would be a harsh penalty, Wilkin pleaded that change and consistency need to come with the disciplinary aspect of the game if the sport is to try and attract new viewers.

He reasoned: “My alarm bells go off when I’m watching a game with 20 years of experience of watching rugby, playing rugby, being around professional rugby, and I’m coming to games and not knowing what the decision is going to be.

“That’s with 20 years of experience and we’re trying to educate new viewers to come and watch it.”