'Absolute joke': NRL world seethes over 'ridiculous' farce
NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has taken the extraordinary step in admitting that officials got it wrong by not sin-binning Roosters winger Daniel Tupou for a high tackle in his side's 14-12 Anzac Day loss to the Dragons.
On a brutal afternoon at the SCG, the Dragons were forced to hold their line for the majority of the second half with just two on the bench after Jack Bird suffered a suspected broken arm and Jaydn Su'A a leg injury.
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However, things might have been a little more comfortable for the Dragons had the Roosters gone down to 12 players, following a high shot from Tupou that appeared to be a black and white sin-binning offence.
With the Dragons fighting to come out of their own end, Ravalawa made a rare second-half break when Tupou collected him around the head.
Referee Adam Gee could be heard saying "it is not as bad as it looked" on the field, but replays painted a much bleaker picture.
The incident left many fans and Dragons coach Anthony Griffin fuming after the match.
“You would have got two years in jail at Magic Round last year for that," Griffin said in his post-match press conference.
“I’m serious. He was dropped back on last play and had 30 metres to decide where to tackle him.
“It was direct contact to the head. I don’t understand the rules.
“He should have at least been in the sin bin.”
I genuinely think the fact that Daniel Tupou is so well-regarded as a "nice guy" in the NRL is the only reason he didn't get binned just then. A player with a worse reputation is sitting for ten right now, ridiculous inconsistency #NRLDragonsRoosters
— Matt Bungard (@TheMattBungard) April 25, 2022
Based on what we've seen this season, they're deadset taking the piss by not sin binning Tupou for that hit. #NRLDragonsRoosters
— Aaron Eugol (@ajl247) April 25, 2022
Considering how strict the referees and the bunker have been about making conduct to the head, I'm actually quite surprised Tupou wasn't sin-binned there. #NRLDragonsRoosters
— Steven Russo (@russos1991) April 25, 2022
Ravalawa would have been lynched on the field if he’d done that https://t.co/6mxLoKMenq
— Matt Ryan Stan (@JDHD44) April 25, 2022
Typical….#Rooster are a protected species. Tupou should have at least been in the bin if not sent off. Absolute joke #NRLDragonsRoosters
— Rod Bryan (@RodMBryan) April 25, 2022
NRL CEO admits it should have been a sin bin
The NRL's CEO also admitted after the game that he thought it should have been a clear sin-binning for Tupou.
"From where I was sitting, to me it was a sin-bin," Abdo told 2GB.
"Direct contact on the head. We'll see what the review comes up with tomorrow.
"I was very surprised it wasn't sin-binned, I think it should have been."
Griffin took aim at the inconsistency from the NRL's bunker so far this season, with worse incidents than Tupou's warranted sin-bins in previous games.
“I’m not here to bag anyone and it is not the story of the night.
‘But it is just black and white with what has been happening. It is not even a question.
“I feel for everyone. I feel for the players. I feel for the coaches because if you are not going to put that in the bin for some of the things that have been in the bin over the last four or five weeks, I don’t know where we go now.”
The win for the Dragons came at a heavy cost, with Moses Suli also requiring scans on his ankle after battling through much of the two-point win.
The Dragons face a six-day turnaround, with their next clash coming against the Wests Tigers at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Sunday.
with AAP
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