EXCLUSIVE: NRL Officials Advised to ‘Play It Safe’ Amid Sin Bin Uncertainty

Following a series of contentious sin bins, NRL great Billy Slater has advocated for a more cautious approach by referees in future matches.

This past weekend’s seventh round was filled with chaos, with several players shown red cards, while others managed to evade punishment during the game.

The most significant incident occurred towards the end of the round, where Knights winger James Schiller was sent off for ten minutes, provoking an angry reaction from Andrew Johns in the commentary box.

Schiller has since been charged by the match review committee and fined $1000 for his actions.

In a surprising twist, Eels forward Kelma Tuilagi escaped any immediate penalties for a blatant shoulder charge to the head of Terrell May, but was later handed a three-game suspension.

Halfback Mitch Moses is also facing a fine for a similar incident that occurred just a day prior to Schiller’s foul.

This series of events, coming shortly after the NRL’s recent crackdown on high contact, has left Slater searching for clarity, especially as the Bunker and referees seem to struggle with consistency from one match to the next.

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“I’d prefer if they erred on the side of caution regarding sin bins,” he remarked on Nine’s Billy Slater Podcast on Monday.

“It’s better to keep a player on the field and then assess them post-match, rather than rushing to the sin bin and later realising they made a mistake—this can significantly impact the game.

“The match officials have a challenging role and generally perform admirably, but I’d prefer the use of sin bins to be reduced.

“Let the match review committee handle the clearer cases. Essential incidents are fine, but the ongoing issue is about consistency.

“I believe in keeping the game 13 on 13 whenever possible.” 

Additionally, Manly prop Toafofoa Sipley also received a sin bin for a hip-drop tackle, while Sunia Turuva was temporarily sidelined following a scuffle on Monday.