Super League is officially back and it got underway with a bang as Hull FC signing Franklin Pele put Tyrone May on his backside from the opening kick-off, but not 40 minutes later the prop forward would be sent off for something that a former Leeds Rhinos man has labelled “embarrassing”.
The home side lost to their cross-city rivals Hull KR as the Robins nilled FC for the second year in a row on the road, Willie Peters’ side winning 22-0 in comfortable fashion.
NRL recruit Franklin Pele earned the first red card of the new season when he followed up a big hit on Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella with a vicious swinging arm that clocked Minchella around the face.
Whilst a melee ensued it was just a matter of time before Liam Moore regained control of the game and sent Pele for an early bath with Sky Sports commentators Dave Woods and Kyle Amor in shock at the prop’s actions.
It also seemed that fans of all clubs, including Hull FC, couldn’t quite believe it with a general consensus that Pele was rightfully sent off and that he might be on the sidelines for a long time with a hefty ban.
One man who didn’t agree though is former Leeds Rhinos forward Ryan Bailey with the Super League winner taking to X, formerly Twitter, to label the red card “unnecessary” and claim that “referees are uneducated”.
Former Leeds Rhinos Super League winner slams Pele red card
Former Leeds Rhinos man Ryan Bailey was incredibly outspoken on the red card for Franklin Pele in the Super League opener. – PICTURE BY MARK GREEN/SWPIX.COM
Bailey himself wasn’t a stranger to the disciplinary panel with the former Leeds Rhinos hardman having been renowned for putting up some big hits as well as a bit of ‘biff’.
That’s something that he claimed should be allowed to happen in a derby match as he took to social media to bemoan the decision to send Pele off.
Bailey posted: “Pele sent off for abit if biff in a Derby wow put it on report and let the game flow red card unnecessary! The reason being the same tackle won’t be the sane result throughout the year because the referees are uneducated. UK RUGBY IS EMBARRASSING.”
Pele sent off for abit if biff in a Derby wow put it on report and let the game flow red card unnecessary ! The reason being the same tackle won’t be the sane result throughout the year because the referees are uneducated. UK RUGBY IS EMBARRASSING
— RYAN BAILEY (@BAILS168) February 15, 2024
Whilst Bailey has been retired since 2017, last playing for Leeds Rhinos in 2014, and therefore out of the game for almost a decade, one man still in the game also was hugely critical of the red card.
That man was Wakefield Trinity’s new signing Iain Thornley with the ex-Wigan centre also taking to X to label the decision “embarrassing”.
Sharing footage of the wild swinging arm, he said: “Embarrassing! your trying to grow the sport but penalising positive hits!”
Embarrassing! your trying to grow the sport but penalising positive hits! https://t.co/UA5sZc5abg
— Iain Thornley (@IainThornley1) February 15, 2024
Many fans responded with surprise at how Thornley could describe the incident as a “positive hit” and when challenged on the matter he doubled down.
After one fan hypothetically suggested that Pele’s actions would be deemed “assault” if done in town, Thornley responded: “Yeh maybe round town but where playing rugby and from day dot know the implications and CHOSE to play.”
Yeh maybe round town but where playing rugby and from day dot know the implications and CHOSE to play
— Iain Thornley (@IainThornley1) February 15, 2024
Pele will now almost certainly head to the Operational Rules Tribunal with the offence likely to be charged as a Grade D offence or maybe even higher.
Meanwhile, Ligi Sao also saw red in the game for contact with the head which could likely see him suspended for a few matches too.
