Souths star Jack Wighton has copped a massive ban from the match review committee for an incident he was sent to the sin bin for during his side’s 14-12 loss to Cronulla.
Wighton learned his fate on Sunday, receiving a three-match ban with an early plea. If Wighton fights the charge and loses, he’ll miss four games.
The ban was so substantial as it was Wighton’s second shoulder charge offence.
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Wighton levelled Sharks prop Toby Rudolf, who came off worse for wear after an accidental head clash.
Rudolf was clearly groggy and had to be helped off the field.
Wighton was then called over by referee Belinda Sharpe, who gave the Souths star his marching orders.
“Contact is head on head but it’s a shoulder charge with no attempt to wrap (your arms), you’re in the bin,” Sharpe said to Wighton.
“Oh no, it’s over for Wighton for 10 minutes,” Dan Ginnane said on Fox League in response.
“So acknowledgment for head on head contact but a shoulder charge nonetheless.”
Jack Wighton sent to sin binSource: FOX SPORTS
Ginnane and co-commentator Kevin Walters both disagreed with the decision to sin bin Wighton.
“That’s interesting … That’s contentious. Is the referee is blaming the head on head contact for the injury,” Ginnane said.
“Did it look like a shoulder charge Kev?”
“No. I don’t think that’s a shoulder charge, the inside arm is wrapping. I think it’s more the fact that Rudolf got KO’d,” Walters replied.
Ginnane then labelled it a “reaction sin bin”.
Luckily for Souths, the Sharks wouldn’t add to the scoreline while Wighton was in the bin.