The NRL won’t re-introduce the five-minute sin bin anytime soon, according to chief executive Todd Greenberg.
The procedure was removed from the game over a decade ago but amid accusations that a number of teams deliberately concede penalties on their try line there have been calls for it to return.
Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett and St George Illawarra’s Paul McGregor led the chorus over the weekend saying the intentional approach to give away repeat sets was a scourge on the game.
But the game’s new boss is adamant the five-minute penalty won’t be coming back any time soon.
“These things were talked about at the competition committee last year, and it is not on the agenda,” Greenberg told AAP.
His declaration comes after senior player Robbie Farah egged the governing body to look at harsher penalties for reportable offences, particularly when the affected team loses a player for the game.
“I think in general we’ve forgotten the sin bin,” the Wests Tigers rake said.
“There are a lot of professional fouls that go unpunished these days. I’d like to see the sin bin take a bit more significance in the game, whether it’s five or ten minutes.”
djcooper
Roar Guru
Just about everyone can see the benefit of reintroducing the five minute sin bin to punish illegal play (because ten minutes is too long for trivial offences) and yet Greenburg said it is off the table. Strong leadership can at times mean making unpopular decisions and I thought this would have been a good opportunity for Greenburg to stand up. If you don't think it's a good idea Todd tell us why, don't just hide behind the rules committee. What worries me with Greenburg being in charge is that he says a lot without saying anything at all.
Joel
Guest
There are a couple ways of looking at it, 5 min in a sin bin might be worth it still to take a player out of the game, a yellow red card system which works for all other sports it seems works best, clear and concise. Red card for serious offences but can be subbed, yellow card your on shaking ground, second yellow gone, but can be subbed. Gives the power back to refs for a clean game. Since the old days when decided to take the sin bin off the agenda it has really never been tested how it would effect the game reintroducing sin binning in the modern era. Instead of reducing interchange, they could have introduced more powers to the ref to sin bin, and in effect lessening interchange,if gone to the bin you can still be subbed, on less on the bench is a large penalty. (though end of game could see tactics, maybe if 10 to go and you get binned there is no sub? The effect would be more beneficial to teams doing the right thing, trying to play a free flowing game. This season maybe obvious that teams are ready to give away penalties to protect their line because there is no sin bin, but less interchange, so the tactics pay. bring back the interchange, but sin bin and the player can be subbed, one less interchange. Maybe refs to much control when to call the penalty as to who to sin bin? comments welcome?
Cadfael
Roar Guru
The NRL needs to do something. It is wrong what is happening. Mike, above, was quite right. Where was the penalty on the day for the Shark? Many kept their 17 man squad and were the offenders while Cronulla had to play on for over half the game, a man down on the bench. Referees need to grow some and use the sin bin and send off. Even if a player sent off is replaced, it will affect their bench which is more than happens now to offending teams.
Mike from tari
Guest
The Tuapau swinging arm on Bird still irks me, Taupau managed to take out of one of the Sharks best players for the whole game, it's wrong.