Blues enforcer Liam Martin has avoided a sin bin for a lifting tackle that a rugby league legend believed was a cut and dry 10-minute sideline stint.
In the 36th minute, Martin was penalised for an ugly tackle on Maroons middle forward Reuben Cotter that saw him tipped beyond the parallel.
For the eighth Immortal Andrew Johns, he was certain that Martin would be given his marching orders by Ashley Klein.
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“This will be a sin bin to Liam Martin, if they’re consistent,” he said on Channel 9.
Johns likened the tackle to that of Warriors flyer Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who was sent to the sin bin for a lifting tackle on Titans gun Jayden Campbell in Round 16.
“We saw one on the weekend with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for the Warriors. Gets him up. Gets him over the parallel,” Johns explained.
However, despite pleas from Queensland skipper Daly Cherry-Evans, Martin was placed on report and the Maroons earnt a penalty for the tackle.
Incomer Moses puts Martin over first | 00:39
The moment sparked mass outrage from the rugby league world.