Leeds and England captain Kevin Sinfield was sent off for the first time in his distinguished career as the Rhinos were held to a 24-24 draw by Castleford in a pulsating Super League derby at Headingley.
Sinfield was shown a red card for a headbutt on Castleford fullback Luke Dorn eight minutes from the end of a tense and keenly-fought match, with his side leading 24-18.
The 33-year-old Sinfield, who won the 2012 Golden Boot as the world's best player, exchanged words with Australian Dorn after a tackle before attacking him.
Castleford took advantage of the extra man to score an equalising try through loose forward Grant Millington two minutes later before both sides failed with late drop-goal attempts to break the deadlock.
The point was enough to take Leeds back to the top of Super League but the talking point was the dismissal of Sinfield, who was awarded the MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to rugby league.
Leeds coach Brian McDermott said Sinfield was shattered by his lapse in discipline.
"He's just made an apology to the players ... there will be nobody hurting more than Kevin at the moment," McDermott told Sky Sports.
McDermott had no complaints over the decision of referee Ben Thaler.
"He lost it for half a second, it happens. He has moments of frustration but we've never ever seen that," McDermott said.
"I think we can all afford him a little momentary lapse, can't we?"
Dorn admitted he was stunned by the action Sinfield took over their dispute.
"We had a few heated words," Dorn told Sky Sports.
"You could probably see from the look on my face I was quite shocked."
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