28-05-2025
‘Ridiculous': State of Origin sin bin controversy erupts in opener
Controversy has unfolded in the opening half of the State of Origin opener with fans left seeing red.
In the dying seconds and with the Maroons looking to finally impact the scoreboard, a kick into the end zone hung in the air as Xavier Coates came leaping in.
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As the Queensland star leapt for the ball he was met in the air by Blues counterpart Brian To'o with the ball bobbling out of his hands and onto the Suncorp turf.
Coates instantly argued with Ashley Klein that he was impeded with the official sending it to be checked by the Bunker.
As slow motion replays began to roll it appeared the Blues star had wrapped his arms around Coates.
'There's no doubt he grabs Xavier Coates there,' Cam Smith said in commentary.
The Bunker ultimately ruled it was a professional foul, which means To'o will now spend the first 10 minutes of the second half in the sin bin.
The decision however from the Bunker to penalise the diminutive Blues star left those watching on seething.
Darren Lockyer on Nine's halftime coverage said of the To'o sin bin: 'I thought he was a little bit hard done by it. A professional foul is something you do deliberately. I think that was an instinctive reaction.'
Phil Gould added: 'I think it's a ridiculous exaggeration and a ridiculous interpretation of the rule. They're fighting for the ball in the possession. It's not a sin bin in an origin match.'
The Mole wrote on X: 'Joke sin bin.. no intent from To'o to tackle … just got out-jumped.'
Reporter Lachlan Jeffery wrote: 'That's just the worst call ever. I know they have to keep Queensland in the game, but that is so far from the correct call it's not funny. Even Queenslanders know that that's blatantly incorrect.'
The moment opened the door up for the Maroons after the Blues had dominated proceedings in the first half.
In a moment of pure magic, Latrell Mitchell stunned fans with a freak act that helped extend the Blues' lead.
The ball worked its way to the left hand side of the field and Latrell Mitchell passed the ball on to To'o while mid-air as he was about to get tackled.
'He actually caught and passed that in mid-air, Latrell Mitchell,' Cam Smith said on Nine.
Brad Fittler added: 'Latrell when he threw the ball he was off the ground. I don't know how he finds the strength to be able to flick it through his hands that quick.'
Joey Johns just said this Blues start is: 'As good as it gets. They're (Queensland) getting blown away.'
