Rugby League Pundit Weighs In on Controversial Yellow Card
Incident Sparks Debate Among Experts
Rugby league pundit Sam Tomkins has weighed in on the controversial yellow card handed to Catalans Dragons’ Franck Maria during their clash with St Helens. The match at The Totally Wicked Stadium saw the French side take on the Super League leaders, with both teams looking to solidify their positions at the top of the table.
One of the key talking points from the game was the incident involving Maria and St Helens’ George Delaney. Tomkins, a former player himself, believed that while the tackle was “nasty” and “not nice,” the referee’s decision to issue a yellow card was the correct call based on the mechanics of the hit.
“The first contact is with the back of the shoulder. He’s not gone direct to the head but there’s no doubt he does make contact but as he swings his arm, he catches him on the shoulder before then going up to the head,” Tomkins explained.
However, the Sky Sports pundit also predicted that Maria would likely face a ban for the tackle, despite the yellow card.
Joining Tomkins in the analysis was Leeds Rhinos legend Jamie Jones-Buchanan, who likened the shot to a “golf swing with a three wood.” While acknowledging the severity of the hit, Jones-Buchanan agreed with the referee’s decision, stating that “by the letter of the law it’s a yellow but you’ve got to keep the aggression under control.”
The incident added to the already charged atmosphere at the ground, with the St Helens faithful voicing their displeasure with the referee’s call at the end of the first half. The match was a crucial one for both sides, with St Helens aiming to extend their lead at the top of the table, while Catalans were looking to pull level with the leading trio of Saints, Wigan, and Warrington.
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