Queensland Reds co-captain Tate McDermott and Fraser McReight have been red-carded during a wild second half.
Both were sent off as the Reds went down 17-14 to Moana Pasifika in Whangarei.
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McDermott was the first to be sent off, with the incident coming in the 45th minute when flanker Irie Papuni raced away from a lineout with the loose ball.
The scrum half was there to bring him down as the backrower attempted to fend him away.
As Papuni fell to the ground, the scrum half followed through with a swinging arm and collected him in the head.
The play continued and McDermott was the man to break the game open with a burst.
Three phases later Josh Flook dived over the line after a grubber kick, only for the TMO to alert referee Angus Mabey of the incident.
He was initially yellow-carded before instantly upgraded to a red almost two minutes afterwards.
"If I look at it, in some ways it was almost like a strike," former All Black and commentator Jeff Wilson said.
"He's thrown the arm and it's made contact...It's not going to be accepted and the reaction unfortunately for Tate McDermott has hurt his side."
The Reds, who trailed 10-0 at the break, found themselves suddenly in front despite the red card to the co-captain when Jordan Petaia scored with ten minutes to go.
However, they were dealt a further blow when McReight followed McDermott into the sheds.
With the game in the balance, McReight collected William Havili high as the flyhalf took the line on.
Like McDermott, the play was initially allowed to continue before the TMO brought it back for a yellow, and upgraded to a red.
It allowed Moana Pasifika to build pressure and eventually, Havili was the man to strike.
He crossed the line with three minutes to go to give Moana Pasifika the 17-14 victory.
