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Time is ticking for NRL's sin bin

18th July, 2010
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Roar Guru
18th July, 2010
11
1237 Reads

Ref sends a player to the binThe use of the NRL’s sin bin in 2010 has been farcical and it’s time referees boss Robert Finch laid down some hard and fast rules for its use. If that can’t be done, then it should be torn out of the rule book.

The latest sin bin shocker came on Friday night, with Gold Coast centre Mat Rogers given a 10 minute breather at a crucial stage of the Titans 24 to 10 loss to Brisbane at Skilled Park.

The Titans were leading 10-6 when Broncos winger Jharal Yow-Yeh pounced on a stray pass from Greg Bird inside their 20 and streaked away.

He made it to the Titans 30 metre line before Rogers completed the tackle and his team mates scrambled back to try and defend their line.

Four seconds later, the dual international was told by referee Matt Cecchin he’d committed an offence that warranted a stint in the bin.

Four seconds!

In the next set of six, Antonio Winterstein crossed in the corner and Corey Parker added the extras to give Brisbane a 12-10 lead. The Titans wouldn’t score again.

Gold Coast coach John Cartwright walked into the post match press conference, undid the top button on his shirt and loosened his tie.

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“I’d like someone to explain to me when the sin bin is applied. I’d just like someone to explain it to me,” Cartwright said.

“I’d like to know why that one was a sin bin and others aren’t.”

Any takers on that explanation?

Cartwright is spot on the money. There have been many instances this season, almost on a weekly basis, where a player has made a try saving tackle and held on for maybe a second too long to give his team mates time to recover.

Rarely are players sin-binned.

Making things harder for Rogers was the fact Scott Prince was lying on top of him, and as soon as Prince got to his feet so did Rogers.

So why wasn’t Prince also marched?

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It’s been a controversial year for the men in pink in regards to the sin bin.

In round 6 Robert Finch stood down Ben Cummins and Gerard Sutton after Parramatta captain Nathan Cayless was incorrectly sin-binned for stripping the ball against the Rabbitohs, when in-fact Daniel Mortimer was the offender.

Whether Mortimer deserved to serve time was also debatable.

In the same match, Rabbitohs centre Beau Champion was binned for a high tackle, a call that also could have been deemed harsh.
12 rounds later and the problem is still happening.

Not only is the sin bin causing controversy, but this time it could well have cost the Titans two competition points they dearly need.
It may be time for the sin bin to be sent off.

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