Sin-bin in vogue in ’18

REFEREES will be urged to continue the trend of using the sin-bin following a meeting of the new-look NRL Competition Committee yesterday.

The committee, which comprises some of the leading figures in the game, collectively agreed to maintain the code’s tough stance on breaches.

These include repeated goal line infringements aimed at slowing play and deliberate and dangerous foul play.

Referees will also be encouraged to be more vigilant in penalising players for failing to make an attempt to use their foot in the play the ball.

The committee, including new members Paul Green (Cowboys), Ivan Cleary (Tigers) and Souths skipper Greg Inglis, was particularly keen to stop the growing trend of teams giving away deliberate penalties on their own goalline to slow down the play.

In 2017, 18 per cent of penalties were in the 0-10m zone despite only 10 per cent of play-the-balls made in this area.