Mitch Barnett sent off for elbow to the jaw in Newcastle vs Penrith match

A disgraceful off-the-ball elbow to an opponent’s jaw has seen Newcastle Knights forward Mitch Barnett become the first player sent off in the 2022 NRL season.

The ball was metres away when Barnett smashed Penrith’s Chris Smith on the chin as the Panthers staged an attacking raid deep in Knights territory.

The inexplicable act in the 32nd minute saw the Newcastle enforcer cock and raise his forearm before smashing it into Smith as he tried to get through him to follow the play out to the wing.

Barnett smashed his elbow into Chris Smith’s face with the ball several metres away as Penrith attacked deep in Newcastle territory

The referee didn’t hesitate to give Barnett his marching orders in Bathurst

The Knights enforcer looked distraught as he sat alone in the dressing sheds, aware he had almost certainly cost his team the game

Smith failed his head injury assessment after copping the elbow and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. 

Fox Sports commentator Warren Smith labelled the blow a ‘huge brain explosion’ as Barnett trudged off the field.

He was later seen holding his head in his hands in the dressing room at Bathurst’s Carrington Park ground, aware he had almost certainly cost his team any chance at victory.

Penrith kicked a penalty to draw level at six-all just after Barnett was sent off, then Taylan May scored a try, converted by Stephen Crichton, to make it 12-6 Penrith at halftime.

The shocking hit took the gloss off a hard-fought top-of-the table clash which Newcastle were leading before Barnett lost his mind.