Referee Ben Cummins sends David Fa’alogo to the bin with captain Roy Asotasi in the centre in the NRL Rugby League Round 25 South Sydney Rabbitohs v Sydney Roosters at Sydney Olympic Stadium, Saturday, September 1st, 2007. Sydney Roosters 26 bt South Sydney 12. AAP Image/Action Photographics/Colin Whelan
There seems to be a consensus amongst many long time league fans that the eighties were a golden period for the game. The game expanded beyond Sydney and the seeds were sown for the national competition that we have today. Good times.
There’s probably still many who wouldn’t mind if the game was the same as it was back then: brutal local rivalries, mullets and loose fitting jerseys.
But time has marched on, and new derby matches and near-impossible-to-grab-jerseys are the order of the day.
But one aspect from the eighties that most definitely should be brought back is the five minute sin bin.
Craig Bellamy agrees.
He raised it a few weeks back after the Storm’s 28-12 win over the Roosters that saw Steve Turner and Willie Mason sin binned as results of their respective team’s repeated infringements.
Bellamy argued, quite rightly, that the ten minute sin bin is too harsh a penalty for those sort of infringements.
After Benji Marshall’s sin binning for the same thing at a crucial stage of last Friday night’s match against the Broncos, Tigers fans probably agree.
Tigers fans will also have noticed that their team received a general warning at the same time as Brisbane during the first half, despite the fact that the Broncos had been the side repeatedly infringing.
No wonder Tim Sheens was so keen to have a meeting with referee’s boss Robert Finch this week.
With Finch coming out and instructing his charges to use the sin bin more to deter ill discipline it’s likely that we’ll see more games such as last Friday’s that are swung in favour of one team due to an enforced ten minute break. A five minute sin binning would be a would be a much fairer punishment.
Critics of the two referees system seem to think that the influx of less experienced officials is the reason for the perceived bad judgements and extra penalties.
Perhaps it’s just a case of the extra man in the middle now being able to pick up all the sly tricks that the players use in the ruck. For example, in past seasons when a hand on the ball from an opposition player would result in a scrum for a knock on, we are now seeing rightful penalties being blown.
Maybe it is the players who need to be coming in for more criticism.
Bring back five in the bin. It might actually make more people happy.
Steffy
Guest
I don't think the rugby played in the 80's was anything like as good as it is now. In England the league and cup were dominated by Wigan who were the only fully professional rugby team - obviously they were great to watch but then they weren't up against much. Now the game is fully professional at the top level it is a far better spectacle.
Brett McKay
Guest
so Sheek, you would say the Cronulla board is just being "nostalgic" at the moment...
sheek
Guest
I'll pass on the mullets, but traditional looking jerseys I don't mind. That is, loose fitting with a collar. I was a bit pissed off with league in the 80s, especially early 80s. Look at a Kangaroos side & there was a shoulda been Wallaby in Wally Lewis, while two ex-Wallabies were key members of the side, Ray Price in the early 80s, & Mick O'Connor in the late 80s. but yeah, it was a great time for league. Although you find each era has its good & bad points. The problem with nostalgia is we're inclined to filter out the bad times, & remember the good times. With makes it all sorta surreal.
The man
Guest
No need for a re-introduction. It would be a backwards step - much like a return to the five meter rules, endless scrum penalties (or Bulldogs supremacy for that matter). I recall a couple of weeks ago people were sick of refs giving multiple warnings and doing nothing. The have since reacted and started sitting blokes down for 10 minutes. Good on them. Simple matter is that teams should stop infringing and they wouldnt have to loose a man for 10.
Skull
Guest
Can we introduce a 5 minute sin bin for referrees too?
Brett McKay
Guest
Peter Stirling hit this on the head last weekend saying he didn't realise the interpretation of repeated infringements had changed from eing against the individual to now being against the team. I'd reckon the absolute majority of fans are in the same boat. And if this is the case, then yeah, the five minute sin bin has some merit..
Gerry Faehrmann
Guest
The only good thing about the Eighties was the Bulldog supremacy. Sorry, couldn't help myself...but really 10 minutes is a bit long especially for some of the misdemeanours.