Trent Robinson has accused the NRL’s bunker of grossly over-reacting by sending off Dom Young and sin-binning Victor Radley in the Sydney Roosters’ dramatic loss to Canterbury.
He was half vindicated on Saturday morning when the charges dropped, with Radley untouched by the judiciary, though, as expected, Young was sanctioned.
The winger faces a two week ban with an Early Guilty Plea and three if he challenges. He will miss a return to Newcastle next Thursday night and a crunch match at Allianz Stadium against the Melbourne Storm, with a potential return for the Anzac Day meeting with the Dragons.
Sam Hughes was the only other player charged from the game, with a fine sufficient for his head slam tackle on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
The Roosters went within a whisker of pulling off the equal-biggest comeback in NRL history on Friday night, despite finishing the 30-26 loss with just 11 men on the field.
Young was dismissed in the first half for a high shot on Blake Taaffe, before Radley was sin-binned late for an apparent hip-drop tackle on Stephen Crichton.
Both calls frustrated Robinson, who has previously accused the bunker of failing to protect his players when it comes to high shots.
“(Dom) hit him high and it’s not good for Blake. You don’t want to see that,” Robinson said. “It hit him in the jaw, but it wasn’t a swinging arm. It was open-handed. It was lower than shoulder height.
“If that’s the standard, that’s fine. But that’s a new one for me. I feel like that’s lower than what’s been sent off before.
“It’s definitely a sin bin. Blake’s got concussed from that … But we’ve had guys stay on the field, not even go for 10, for (worse).
“That was a bit over the top. If they come out and say, ‘Rightio that’s the new (level)’, there’ll be a lot more send-offs in our game.”
Robinson was even more incensed by the Radley sin bin, which came with the Roosters battling back at 30-20.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The tackle did not appear to meet several of the indicators of a hip drop, given Connor Watson had been the one to bring ball-carrier Stephen Crichton to the ground.
“The (Radley) one was ridiculous,” Robinson said. “Connor is the one that tackles (Crichton) from behind and twists his ankle, and then (Radley) falls on that ankle.
“How they got there, to that decision, that’s incredible. That was below par.”
Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo agreed, arguing the call was “harsh”.
The Roar League Podcast is on YouTube! Click here and subscribe to make sure you never miss an episode
“Accidents happen. And we’ve been on the other end of them a few times,” Ciraldo said.
“So I’ve got sympathy for a bloke who gets sent to the sin bin for hip drops.”
Beyond Young and Radley, the Roosters are guaranteed to be without Sam Walker and James Tedesco against Newcastle on Thursday after both suffered concussions.
Walker was OK in the dressing room after, but Robinson said Tedesco was “getting his memory back” at halftime.
Storm lock Trent Loeiro was the only player charged from Thursday night’s game but is only facing a fine of $1000-$1500 for dangerous contact.
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Joey is clearly still not over Dominic Young leaving the Knights. The Roosters winger scored the sealing try in a 40-18 win over Brisbane.
The Broncos skipper tried to stop Joseph Sua'ali'i with one good arm and did a decent job of diffusing the play with the pass…
Jesse Arthars was in hospital receiving treatment for a broken jaw before Friday night’s game was over after a self-inflicted blow in the first…
Deine Mariner was sin binned for this high shot on James Tedesco. Does he have more to worry about?
The Brisbane halfback's horror run with injury has continued with Channel Nine confirming Reynolds tore a bicep against the Roosters.
Even Nine's Andrew Johns and Fatty Vautin had to side with James Tedesco here as Ashley Klein allowed the Broncos to take a healthy…
