Bin a rubbish idea? Has the increase in sin bins in the NRL actually helped the game?
IT’S taken a while for the message to get through to the players, but there’s no doubt the greater enforcement of the rules — and subsequent sin binnings — is making rugby league a better spectacle.
We all watched with horror in the early stages of the season as the referees turned the NRL into a penalty-a-thon.
Punters were unhappy. Commentators were disillusioned. Legends were outraged.
But through the pain, we’ve come out the other side with an improved product.
The increase in sin-binnings has sent a strong message to the players and coaches that referees will not tolerate to ruck infringements, wrestling and general misdemeanours that have dogged the game for most of the last two decades. In the long run, the changes will bring the gladiatorial aspect and the little men back into the game, and that can only be a good thing.
The introduction of sin-binnings for foul or dangerous play is also a good move and we’ve seen it used to great effect in recent rounds, like in the Melbourne-Manly game on Saturday night. It only took 110 years. The bigger problem remains improving the quality of the refereeing, to bring it in line with the standard of play. Sometimes the refs simply get it wrong and I think we saw that with the Dylan Napa sinbinning in the Roosters’ battle with the Broncos on Friday. While there’s no doubt it was careless, to sin bin someone for an accidental headbutt seems a tad harsh. SURETY is a hard trait to find in sport.
It’s even harder in the NRL. Basically, few fans know exactly what the new interpretation of the (insert the fresh issue here) will be in any given week.
I’ve been a vocal supporter of referees for a long time, if for no other reason than the fact they are in an impossible position.
Have a good game, no credit. Have a bad game, don’t hear the end of it.
Yet amid my general backing comes frustration over the spate of sin bins.
For too long players have held sway over refs, holding up the game in order to slow it down (among other reasons).
Yet 10 minutes is simply too long off the field now. I’m not opposed to sin bins, but rather the reintroduction of a fiveminute sin bin.
The gulf between penalties and 10 minutes off the field is far too great, scaring whistleblowers into not using the sin bin weapon.
That, in turn, comes with angst from fans. Again, damned if you do, damned if you don’t.
I wouldn’t pretend to have the answers to easing those concerns, but rather propose an expansion of the number of tools at the disposal of the referees.
The modern game has so many new twists and tricks, so why shouldn’t the refs be loaded with a few more of their own? Even if it means going back to the future, it will certainly ensure the NRL is a more understandable product.