'Silly' Edwards throws chair after slap binning

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has labelled forward Kenny Edwards 'silly' for becoming the first NRL player to earn a sin-binning for a slap.

Edwards hit North Queensland's Gavin Cooper as players came together late in the Eels' 26-6 win over the Cowboys on Friday night.

The NRL introduced the penalty for open-hand slaps only two weeks ago after Bulldogs forward David Klemmer connected with Manly's Daly Cherry-Evans.

Asked in the press conference what he made of the incident, Arthur was forthright. "You can't do it. Silly."

Edwards was playing in just his second game of the season following the completion of a ban related to recent domestic violence charges.

The 27-year-old was in disbelief when the referee signalled 10 minutes but cameras soon revealed his frustration.

Edwards was captured forcefully throwing a chair at the lockers in the sheds.