Rugby League: New Zealand Warriors NRL forward Jazz Tevaga controls controversial sin-bin against Parramatta Eels

New Zealand Warriors forward Jazz Tevaga was “ridiculous” without a bin during Sunday’s NRL game against the Parramatta Eels on the Central Coast.

In the 16th minute of the game, the Samoa international was tackled 30 meters from the opponent’s try line.

After he was pinned to the ground, Tevaga reached out and made contact with Nathan Brown’s jaw.

Brown reacted quickly by pushing Tevaga back to the grass, and a brief fight broke out between a handful of players.

Once the chaos dissipated, the eel captain, Mitchell Moses, was heard pleading with the referee, “He hit him. Can you check? Can you check?”

A chorus of boos resounded around Central Coast Stadium as reruns were shown on the giant screens.

“I wouldn’t call it the crime of the century … I’m happy if they just play the ball,” said Fox League commentator Andrew Voss.

The great Greg Alexander of Penrith Panthers pleaded: “Let’s not overreact to what just happened there.”

Commentators agreed that the isolated incident was not worth worrying about, but the referee ruled that Tevaga had hit Brown on the head and sent the 25-year-old for ten minutes in the trash.

Voss yelled, “Oh no, it’s gone to waste!

“Jazz Tevaga is now off the field for ten minutes because of that? Because of that? He’s grabbed his neck.”

Alexander replied, “Did he hit him on the head? He pushed his head forward!”

“That’s ridiculous. That’s really ridiculous. He was still holding her neck and just put his hand to his face.

“Playing the ball would have been the best result.”

Voss replied, “That’s amazing … if that’s the benchmark for bin sin, the rugby league will change forever.

“I’m going to declare that on the fly is the worst garbage I have ever seen.”

Speaking at Fox League, former Brisbane Broncos player Ben Ikin called it “half a punch.”

Parramatta took advantage of his extra man on the field, scoring two goals in the next ten minutes and taking an early 16-0 lead.

However, the Warriors rediscovered their form when Tevaga returned in the 26th minute, scoring two sensational attempts before the break, but the damage was done and they couldn’t hit the front when the Eels took the win.