Why this seemingly innocent Origin image is leaving Blues and Queensland fans outraged – but for very different reasons

The rugby league world was left fuming over a double sin binning the stemmed from a simple head rub during the Blues’ history-making 38-18 victory over Queensland at the MCG on Wednesday night.

Both sides were left down a player in the second half after a scuffle broke out following a big hit from Spencer Leniu on Jaydn Su’A, which forced a knock-on.

Blues players rushed in to celebrate, with Liam Martin rubbing Su’A’s head after the mistake.

The scuffle came soon after a similar incident where Stephen Crichton was penalised for a grapple tackle on Daly Cherry-Evans.

Referee Ashley Klein stepped in to warn both captains that he would bin players if it happened again.

So, after second all-in melee, Klein began asking the Bunker who had run in. 

‘Don’t send anyone to the bin,’ Andrew Johns said in commentary.

‘I don’t know what’s happened here … let’s just play footy, boys,’ Queensland legend Cameron Smith added.

Martin was identified as the instigator with Klein stating that he started it ‘by rubbing the head’ of Su’A.

‘So Liam went for rubbing the head when we’ve seen grapples, we’ve seen picking up and dumping, we’ve seen Latrell chin someone but you rub someone’s head and you get sin binned,’ Johns laughed.

Smith couldn’t believe his eyes either.

‘Sin binned for that? Come on,’ he said.

Queensland enforcer Pat Carrigan soon followed Martin for a stint in the bin.

Footy fans were as shocked as the commentators by what they were witnessing, with angry Maroons fans perplexed that Martin hadn’t been sent off for an earlier incident in the match.

‘Explain how Liam Martin wasn’t sent for that dangerous tackle but was sent for that. Can we be serious,’ posted one to X.

‘Liam Martin spear tackles someone = no bin. Latrell nearly kills Coates = no bin. Rubbish on the ground from Martin and some defence of his teammate from Carrigan = binning.

Martin, who was sin binned, was fortunate not to be temporarily sidelined for a bad tackle earlier in the game

Footy fans were stunned that two players were sent from the field after the incident

‘Liam Martin should have been in the bin 3 different times said another.’

However, NSW footy fans were just shocked he was sent from the ground for something as inoffensive as touching another player’s head.

‘They want to sin bin something from that melee and they choose a head rub? Give me a break haha,’ posted one X user.

‘Ashley Klein must be sacked immediately,’ replied another.

‘Sin bin for a head rub, this game is becoming a joke, switching off. Just for the record I’m a Blues supporter,’ posted a third.