Billy Slater has joined the chorus of stars voicing frustrations over the sin bin rule as eight players prepare to serve varying punishments for their actions in round 25.
Match officials have been placed under the spotlight in recent weeks with scrutiny about the consistency and understanding over punishments of high tackles.
But despite mass concern, head of elite competitions Graham Annesley remains insistent that the referee group and match review committee remain aligned.
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The aftermath of round 25 saw Roosters veteran Jared Waerea-Hargreaves hit with a three-match ban and Sharks centre Jesse Ramien with a one-match ban.
A season-high 30 penalties were awarded for high tackles across the round, with Stephen Crichton’s shot on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck drawing the most controversy.
The decision to not send Crichton to the sin bin left many puzzled as similar incidents in previous and following matches resulted in players being removed for 10 minutes.
However, Slater believes the handling of the incident was better suited to the game, declaring the league needs to “eer on the side of caution” when awarding sin bins.
“I think we sin bin players way too much,” Slater said on Nine’s Billy Slater Podcast.
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“There is inconsistency around high contact and whether or not they go to the bin. They are forced to explain themselves on the run which is making it even more confusing.
“Let the match review committee sort it out. If it’s a penalty, it’s a penalty, if it’s extremely bad, yeah sure, 10 in the bin, but it effects the game so much.
“(Crichton) is one of those incidents that the coaches are getting frustrated with. They see other teams and players get sin binned for similar offences.
“He’s been charged by the match review committee and is facing a week on the sideline, but to be honest, I like that way more than the other way (with sin bins).
“If it’s a bit of a ‘not too sure’ (situation) let the match review committee sort it out. We may have to have situations where the 18th man can come on the field, but I’d rather that then just jump up and down and throw people in the bin. That ruins the spectacle of the game.
“But consistency is what everyone’s frustrated with.”
Eighteen of the 23 grade two and grade three charges handed out this season have come at the cost of a player being sent from the field or in the sin bin.
Slater questioned if match officials are searching for elements of “clean football” ahead of the final series.
“I don’t know the stats but watching all the games on the weekend, there was an extremely high amount of penalties given,” he said.
“I’m guessing (the total) was higher than the average.
“I don’t know whether it’s three weeks before the finals and the referees want to get some clean football in before the finals, but it’s such a contributing factor when your team is getting six again after six again against them.
“But at the end of the day if you don’t do the wrong thing you won’t get penalised.”
