Queensland Reds flanker Liam Gill is facing a suspension after being cited for foul play over his spectacular throw tackle on Brumbies halfback Nic White.

Gill’s action in his floundering team’s 29-0 loss to the Brumbies at Suncorp Stadium enraged opposition coach Stephen Larkham who vowed to pursue a citing for what he described as a “reckless, dangerous” tackle.

On Sunday, the SANZAR citing commissioner deemed the incident on the Reds’ tryline worthy of a send off and referred Gill’s case to duty judicial officer Robert Stelzner.

The match referee Andrew Lees sent Gill to the sin bin over the tackle but also referred the incident to the citing commissioner.

In a move seemingly ripped from the playbook of the WWE, Gill’s frustrations boiled over in the second half when he picked up White at a ruck and threw him back over his head.

“What concerns me is he was upside-down, he got thrown to the ground and he’s a halfback, who’s meant to be protected,” said Larkham.

The Reds were further punished for Gill’s action as Brumbies prop Ben Alexander picked up the ball and dived through the resulting gap in defence to score a try.

Reds coach Richard Graham said he had no idea what Gill, who has been one of Queensland’s best in a tough start to the year, was trying to do.

“I saw White over the ball but it was probably not the cleanest of clearouts I’ve seen before. It was probably more something from WWE or something like that,” Graham said.

A suspension of any sort for Gill is the last thing Queensland needs right now, particularly as their Super Rugby campaign reaches a critical juncture.

The Reds have the bye next week and then face the Lions at home on March 27.

Graham said he expects to have seven players back from injury for that match, among them backline stars James O’Connor and Quade Cooper.

But Graham admitted their return would not guarantee anything.

“There’s no secret to turning it around – that group coming back has to work hard and help the guys who have been working in the last five or so games,” he said.

Graham refused to contemplate suggestions that it was already too late for Queensland to salvage anything from this season.

“It has to be turned around sooner rather than later,” he said.

“There’s 11 games to go in the pool stages. Eight wins last year got two teams to the semis.

“There’s still plenty of rugby to be played and enough confidence in the group that we can do that and achieve that.”