Broncos star Patrick Carrigan found himself in hot water for a high tackle on Friday night and could draw draw the ire of the NRL match review committee.
Early in the first half against the Cowboys, the lock-forward rocked winger Zac Laybutt with a forceful tackle that immediately saw Ashley Klein blow a penalty.
“Oh my goodness,” Johnathan Thurston gasped on commentary for Nine.
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Replays showed the Broncos captain’s shoulder connected directly with Derby’s head and referee Klein called him out and sin binned him for 10 minutes.
Patrick Carrigan’s high tackle on Zac Laybutt. Nine
There were no arguments coming from Carrigan or any of the commentators.
“This is pretty clear, he got his target area all wrong,” Cameron Smith said.
His potential absence would be yet another blow for Brisbane, who are already without Ben Hunt and Reece Walsh for an extended period due to injury.
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Kotoni Staggs opened the scoring at Suncorp Stadium after a deft grubber kick from replacement halfback, who was called into the side with Adam Reynolds injured.
North Queensland then hit back after Scott Drinkwater made a break from deep inside his own half and linked up with Jaxon Purdue to race away and score.
“Hasn’t this kid got some wheels on him” Thurston said.
Purdue is fresh off signing a long-term $3 million contract extension with the Cowboys, while the man who passed it to him in Drinkwater could be headed for an exit.
Laybutt then put the Cowboys ahead as they took advantage of Brisbane being a man down with Carrigan in the sheds.