Sports

NRL stars question sin bin inconsistencies in wake of Burgess ban

Sezer wasn't injured in the incident, with Raiders coach Ricky Stuart saying Burgess was lucky the halfback didn't "lay down".

It's sparked claims of inconsistency given Raiders captain Jarrod Croker was sent to the sin bin for the slightest contact on Rabbitohs second-rower Angus Crichton, which was deemed to be a professional foul.

But neither Burgess swinging arm to an opponent's head drew anything more than a penalty.

Parramatta legend Peter Sterling said it was a "borderline" sending off offence, but pointed to the two tries Souths scored while Croker was in the sin bin to show how big an advantage having an extra man was.

The Raiders said they wouldn't seek any official clarification from the NRL about why Burgess wasn't sent off, while South Sydney will decide whether to challenge Burgess' ban on Monday.

The NRL didn't return Fairfax Media's calls.

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"It has been and continues to be an anomaly in our game where you can lose a player for 10 minutes for something that's marginal … yet you can have a player fouled seriously and no one benefits until the other teams later on that they may be playing if the player is outed [through suspension]," Sterling said on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show.

"Games are won and lost in that 10 minute period. When Croker went to the bin in that game, and I'm not saying it cost them that in any way, shape or form, but two tries and a penalty so there's a lot of points scored."

NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler said Burgess' actions were "unnecessary" and he was lucky Sezer wasn't injured.

He also questioned whether the sin bin should've been used.

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"Don't you think it should be in the sin bin?" Fittler asked.

"We saw Jarrod Croker lay a hand on someone at a crucial time when Crichton went through in support, but then on the other hand you're not allowed to give someone 10 minutes for something where he really missed the mark."

But according to NRL referee boss Bernie Sutton's comments before the season the referees do have the power to use the sin bin and sending offs for foul play.

It seems they've been more focussed on penalising offsides and illegal play-the-balls instead in a controversial crackdown.

"This is a change which has been discussed by the coaches as well as the competition committee," Sutton said in February.

"Referees will be vigilant in this area to ensure players are appropriately punished for serious acts of foul play.

"The change will apply to all trials, except those involving Super League clubs, as well as the NRL premiership."

Both Croker and Stuart were also left scratching their heads about the sin bin inconsistencies.

"I get sin binned, which it is a professional foul, but something like that [high contact] happens twice – it happened to Luke Bateman as well – and those guys stay on the field. It's not an excuse at all, but it's just trying to compare that," Croker said.

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Stuart added: "It's just difficult to comprehend in regards to our interpretations."

NRL ROUND EIGHT

Saturday: Canberra Raiders v North Queensland Cowboys at Townsville, 7.35pm. Live on Fox League.

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David Polkinghorne

David Polkinghorne is a sports reporter at The Canberra Times.

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