A Newcastle Knights enforcer was sin binned yet again after slapping a Panthers opponent in a total brain explosion.
Penrith defeated the Knights 20-12 at BlueBet Stadium on the back of a clinical first half performance from the two-time reigning premiers.
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Dylan Edwards crossed for a try to open the scoring, while Tyrone Peachey scored a double to give the Panthers the lead.
But just on the stroke of halftime, Hetherington was sin binned for lashing out in a tussle with Penrith’s Izack Tago.
Hetherington had completed a tackle on Tago before the Panthers centre gave his opponent a slight shove, which the Knights backrower took exception to.
“Gives him this one, right across the left earhole and the Bunker and the referee are having none of that, and he leaves his team shorthanded,” Warren Smith said in commentary on Fox League.
“That’s poor discipline there from Hetherington. He got a little clip from Tago in the tackle and just lashed out,” Michael Ennis said.
“It was nothing more than a brush from Izack Tago, but he has lashed out has Hetherington.
“He tried to come out to be the enforcer but he has let his emotions get the better of him. That’s a costly one for the away side tonight.”
The Bunker replayed the incident and referee Ben Cummins gave Hetherington his marching orders for a “slap in the face”.
Hetherington is a renowned firebrand and this certainly wasn’t his first rodeo in the sin bin.
In 58 games at four clubs, Hetherington has been sent off once, sin binned five times, suspended six times and spent 15 weeks on the sideline, according to statistician David Middleton.
