As it stands, unless you hold a player down for too long after they make a break, throw a punch, or cuss out a referee, thereโs a fair chance youโre not going to see any time in the NRL sin bin.
The NRL seem to be happy to change rules on a weekly basis, but there is a blaring rule that needs to be changed that it staring them right in the face.
The sin bin needs to be overhauled.
If Tyson Frizellโs shot on Tim Browne didnโt deserve a ten minute sit down then Iโm not sure what does.
Straight up I donโt believe it was a send-off offense. When it happened live, I thought he was off, but upon watching the replay Browne was falling, Frizellโs fist wasnโt clenched and there was no malice.
Try telling that to Browne, who was stretchered off after being knocked silly by the shot.
Frizellโs tackle warranted ten minutes in the bin. The Bulldogs deserved to gain some advantage from the foul.
As it stands they lost a player for the game, and will watch on as Frizell serves any ban that is handed down.
A ten minute advantage would be better than the zero advantage the Bulldogs received. In fact they lost a man for the remainder of the game, thus were at a disadvantage.
The sin bin needs to be used to deter foul play.
It needs to be there for referees to punish players whose actions warrant more than a penalty but are not worthy of a send-off.
Rookie Rep Talk Ridiculous
I canโt believe there is talk of young Valentine Holmes playing rep footy this season after two albeit brilliant games. Those who have read my thoughts on Holmes know I am his biggest fan, and I have no doubt he will represent QLD in his career, but any talk of him debuting in 2015 is nothing more than disruptive. He has looked brilliant in attack whether at fullback or on the wing, and has been a rock under the high ball, but I very much doubt weโll see a repeat of Sione Mataโutiaโs shock Kangaroos selection before posting ten first grade games.
Fullback Surplus
Thereโs an insane amount of young players tearing it up in the outside backs who could become the gameโs next great fullback. Alex Johnston, James Roberts, Valentine Holmes, Tom Trbojevic and Peta Hiku are five players who may see their future in the number one jersey despite spending time at centre or ย wing at their current sides. Fullbacks are becoming more important as the game evolves, while many are making the switch into the halves. Thereโs certainly no shortage of talented number ones in our game.
Diving Disgrace
I was disappointed to read Glenn Stewartโs admission that he dived to win a penalty on Monday Night. I am a huge football fan but canโt stomach the diving in the game, and Iโd hate to see it creep into Rugby League. Thereโs no need for a player of Stewartโs toughness and reputation to be hitting the ground. If itโs a penalty, itโs a penalty. No need to make the contact look worse than it is. Sad thing is, the referees fell for it.
