WE could talk about and unpack all of the positives and negatives of Warrington Wolves’ Round Two display in this column.

That is what we SHOULD be talking about. That is what we WANT to be talking about. But in reality, we can’t.

The Wire did what they had to do, eventually cantering to victory against a depleted Hull FC side that were further hindered by the one thing this game will be remembered for.

Have we learned much about Warrington’s class of 2024 from this game that we didn’t already know? Probably not – they took steps forward in some areas, others still need work as you’d expect in Round Two under a new coach.

Unfortunately, though, all of that and everything else that happened pales into insignificance around the incident that happened just before half time.

An incident that probably – no, definitely – would have gone unnoticed had Ben Currie not been cut above the right eye as a result. Game stopped, controversy starts…

The cut – a nasty one that needed eight stitches – came about due to an accidental clash of heads with Hull’s Nu Brown. It’s a high-speed contact sport, these things happen, let’s move on…

Only, we can’t. Because this is the new rugby league.

This is the rugby league that has been attacked by those that used to make a living from it by way of lawsuits to the point that incidents such as this are now deemed red-card worthy.

For the record, we absolutely have to protect players’ health. Of that, there is no doubt. While we may not like the way in which these new rules to clamp down on head contacts have been brought in, but they are here for the right reasons.

And one has to express sympathy for referee Marcus Griffiths and video referee Liam Moore here, who were merely enforcing the laws they are now bound by.

The referees are not the issue here, the rules are in their lack of room for a common-sense approach to incidents such as this.

In no conceivable way should an entirely accidental clash of heads ever be deemed worthy of a red card.

The rules are the rules, but the rule is rubbish.

Everyone who cares about this sport is – or at least should be – on board with the general idea of making it safer to ensure it survives the threats it now faces, but at what cost?

TV viewers switching over? Fans drifting away? Star players sat on the sidelines through draconian suspensions? Is that what we really want? If we do, let’s keep going as we are.

If not, a conversation has to start about what is going on. Players, coaches, fans, us in the media – we all have our part to play.

Will it change things? Who knows, but unless the dissatisfaction with incidents such as this one is made perfectly clear, this will be how things remain.

Warrington Wolves won, which is fantastic. But nobody could leave that ground feeling satisfied after witnessing this – a new low for the new era of rugby league.