NRL 2022: Real villain in Roosters-Rabbitohs sin-bin madness

There’s a simple explanation for why the Roosters-Rabbitohs elimination final turned into one of the most memorable games in recent history for all the wrong reasons.

Victor Radley is sent to the sin bin by Ashley Klein. Picture: NRL Photos

Referee Ashley Klein has been in the crosshairs over Sunday’s sin-bin extravaganza at Allianz Stadium, but he shouldn’t be.

The blame should fall squarely at the feet of the players who lost the plot, forgot their technique and worst of all, stayed down to bring the video bunker into play.

Klein wasn’t the one hitting blokes in the head. He wasn’t the one rabbit punching players as they lay on the ground.

He wasn’t the one exaggerating injury to milk penalties. Could he have handled it better? Maybe.

But let’s not shift the blame away from the players who should take responsibility for turning Sunday’s final into one of the most memorable games in recent history for all the wrong reasons.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves reacts after been sent to the sin bin by referee Ashley Klein. Picture: Getty Images

Rugby league is in dangerous territory at the most important time of the year. Milking, the scourge of the supporters, has returned.

Coaches and clubs need to address it because it alienates fans. They hate it. It’s almost impossible for the NRL to police so it comes down to people in clubland to ensure players don’t take their time to rise to their feet, hoping that the video referee will intervene.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson bristled when he was asked about it on Sunday afternoon, insisting his players weren’t responsible.

They played their part in other ways. Their discipline cost them any chance at victory. Victor Radley had a couple of stints in the sin-bin and there are questions once again over his temperament.

He did terminal damage to his side’s premiership hopes. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been a leviathan for the Roosters this season but his tackle on Tom Burgess — and subsequent sin-binning — had South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou in a lather.

He was charged with dangerous contact on Monday morning and faces up to four matches on the sidelines, although he is likely to serve that ban while on duty for New Zealand at the World Cup.

Discipline was a major issue for Victor Radley and the Roosters. Picture: Getty Images

The Roosters have some soul searching to do over the off-season. Losing James Tedesco to concussion hurt them — Burgess was charged with a careless high tackle over the incident by the match review committee — but nothing damaged them more than their lack of discipline.

They lost their way and couldn’t find a path back. As for Souths, if there is a side left in the competition that can beat Penrith at the moment it is the Rabbitohs. Latrell Mitchell is a man inspired. He has become the most magnetic player in the game.

In this sort of mood, he can single-handedly take Souths to the title. They need to get through Cronulla first but don’t bet against it. They have the wind in their sails and a superstar at the back.

Latrell Mitchell has become the most magnetic player in the game. Picture: Getty Images

So while some Roosters supporters have chosen to blame the match officials for their loss, they may be better served giving credit to Mitchell and taking a look in their own backyard.

Klein has had his critics this year and there were no shortage of them in the aftermath to Sunday afternoon. There are times when he appears flustered and out of his depth.

Yet this wasn’t his doing. Plenty of others need to take a good look in the mirror.

Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Originally published as NRL 2022: Real villain in Roosters-Rabbitohs sin-bin madness