Hasler claims sin-bin changes affect integrity of NRL
Scott Bailey and Joel Gould |
Des Hasler has launched a fresh attack at the NRL, warning it risks hurting the integrity of the game by shifting the goalposts on sin-bins mid-season.
In his third shot at the league in the past month, the veteran coach also accused NRL CEO Andrew Abdo of lying by claiming there had been no crackdown on foul play over the past four weeks.
Data this week revealed that Hasler’s Gold Coast side were the most penalised team in the NRL for high tackles this year, with a league-high 18 blown against them.
It came as NRL bosses insisted the blame for the record number of sin-bins in round eight lay mostly with the players, with high-tackle numbers soaring.
But Hasler contended it was unfair to say his side were the NRL’s worst offenders, arguing that several penalties blown against his team were simply wrong.
“I agree with the majority out there that (CEO) Andrew (Abdo) and (chairman) Peter (V’landys) are doing a great job,” Hasler said.
“But for Andrew to say that there hasn’t been a crackdown is wrong.
“The consistency around that is really unclear.
“No-one wants to see contact with the head, and we’re doing a good job with that, but accidents happen and it’s a forceful game.”
The NRL said this week it does not want the bunker to intervene as often, and to only stop play to go back and sin-bin a player for the most serious of tackles.
Hasler’s comments come after the Titans have lost their past four games, losing players to the sin bin in three of those matches.
And the Gold Coast mentor said it would be unfair for the NRL to change its approach headed into Magic Round.
“Coming out and changing all this now, and moving the goalposts, it’s not being honest with the integrity of the game,” Hasler said.
“I don’t see why we have to do that.
“I feel sorry for teams that maybe got players suspended last weekend because of bunker interpretations, whether they be right or wrong.
“It seems like all of a sudden we’re going to move the goal posts, which is not a clear response.”
The NRL has insisted it will continue to sanction players the same for high tackles picked up in the run of play, or if there is a stoppage for injury.
Officials are also adamant that approach is not new, with head of football Graham Annesley pointing out this week the sin bin had been used for decades for high shots.
Match review committee officials have identified 379 tackles as being high this year, compared with 201 after eight rounds last year.
Not all of those have been charged, with the vast majority deemed “penalty sufficient”.
High-tackle penalties in matches are also up from 100 to 171 through the first eight rounds of this year, compared with last season.
Players have also been fined a whopping $104,650 for foul play this year, while being handed a total of 51 matches in bans.
That number is well up on the $86,850 in fines and 35 games of suspensions dished out at the same point last year.
AAP
