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'Game is a joke': NRL sin-bin farce sparks fan uproar

Riley Morgan
·Sports Reporter
·4-min read
Jordan Riki (pictured right) sin-binned for a collision with the head during a tackle.
The NRL is set to break its record for most sin-bins in a round after farcical scenes on Friday night. (Images: Fox Sports)

The NRL is facing backlash from rugby league greats and fans after multiple sin-bins in Friday night's two Magic Round games sparked farcical scenes.

Eight players were binned in the opening two games on Friday night, with Wests Tigers, Newcastle, Brisbane and Manly all having two expelled.

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This number could see referees more than double the record for the most sin-bins in a round.

The sudden rise has come as part of a two-pronged crackdown across the game.

Six players were sent on their way for professional fouls and ruck infringements on Friday night, while two Broncos were ejected for high shots.

The NRL are desperate to eradicate dangerous contact, after a surge in high tackles and players being charged for contact with the head this year.

But one or two of the sin bins didn't sit well with NRL greats.

“It isn’t the game that Corey (Parker) and I played,” NRL great, turned commentator, Michael Ennis said on Fox Sports.

“It’s changed. It’s changed quickly.”

Corey Parker reiterated Ennis' sentiment over the sin-bins in the Brisbane Broncos match against the Sea Eagles.

“They’re the people (the fans) that are missing out, the people paying ytheir hard-earned money to come and watch their stars play and it’s unable to happen,” Parker said.

“The standard has been set.”

NRL community fume over sin-bin farce

Fans were also left baffled at the number of sin-bins 'ruining the spectacle' of the game.

Broncos coach Kevin Walters, however, refused to blame the sin-bin for the 50-6 drubbing at the hands of Manly.

In bizarre scenes, six separate Broncos incidents were put on report with Jordan Riki and Tyson Gamble pinged twice and Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai once.

Riki and Gamble were also binned, with the former's coming when he led with the head into Morgan Harper as he tried to bring him to the ground.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 08: Broncos coach Kevin Walters speaks to media in the post match press conference during the round five NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Brisbane Broncos at Stadium Australia on April 08, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 08: Broncos coach Kevin Walters speaks to media in the post match press conference during the round five NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Brisbane Broncos at Stadium Australia on April 08, 2021, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images) (Mark Metcalfe via Getty Images)

In fairness, the match was already over at 26-6 when the pair both went in the space of 40 seconds of each other.

"We were all aware of that (crackdown). Everyone was notified," Walters said.

"We spoke about it during the week. Everybody got a hand out.

"We've got bigger problems. We have to look at ourselves ... The referees don't tick the scoreboard over."

with AAP

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