Monday Buzz: Seething Sydney Roosters call for complete overhaul of NRL sin-bin system

They are the hidden fines that have the Sydney Roosters seething following their finals exit with the club calling for urgent changes, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

Billy Smith missed the weekend clash against the Storm due to a broken jaw. Picture: NRL Photos

The Sydney Roosters are calling for urgent changes to the NRL’s system of fining clubs and players as it can be revealed there have been 28 hidden fines this year for sin-binned players leaving the field too slowly.

At the same time serious incidents of foul play have been hopelessly under punished.

Boom centre Billy Smith suffered a fractured jaw in the first week of the finals against the Cronulla Sharks from a clear high shot.

He’s gone for the business end of the season at a club already depleted with injuries.

In the same game, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was withdrawn from the contest at half-time with severe concussion. Smith and Suaalii are both forced out of the Melbourne Storm game.

Had they played, the Roosters would probably have won and still been alive in the finals.

The man who made the tackle that broke Smith’s jaw, Cronulla’s Thomas Hazelton, cops an $1800 fine. The match review sheet shows it’s his second careless high tackle offence.

Joseph Suaalii missed Friday's sudden death match due to concussion. Picture: NRL Photos

Wade Graham was also fined $1800 for the high shot that forced Suaalii off.

In the old days breaking an opponent’s jaw or high shots causing concussion would attract far more significant penalties.

The NRL has got this wrong.

They have issued 28 breach notices and fines this year to clubs for the far less serious offences of players leaving the field too slowly after being sin-binned.

In the same game as Hazelton and Graham were fined for foul play, Roosters captain James Tedesco was slugged $1000 for not leaving the field quickly enough when sin-binned.

Roosters chief executive Joey Kelly says the system is flawed. And he’s right.

“How can walking off the field in a sin-bin situation attract a similar fine to a tackle that fractures someone’s jaw?,” he asks.

“It is totally disproportionate and doesn’t pass the pub test. The walking fine is ridiculous and, at the same time, the game has missed the mark on foul play and how they adjudicate on such incidents. They need to come down harsh on them.

“The NRL have shown leadership around protecting the players with contact to the head over the past couple of years but the penalty and fine system needs to be aligned to this messaging.

“Hopefully the NRL will undertake a review of the system in the post season and make the necessary changes.”

The NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley makes no apologies for the sin-bin fines.

“All clubs were advised at the start of the season that the rule requiring players to run from the field after being sin-binned or sent-off would be strictly enforced,” he said.

“We’ve had 28 breach notices issued for this offence across 13 different clubs, resulting in either warnings or fines depending on the circumstances and the number of offences.

Tom Hazelton’s high hit resulted in a broken jaw for Billy Smith.

“This is not about the NRL being pedantic. It’s done for two very good reasons.

“Firstly, the dismissed player is required to leave the field as quickly as possible as the game cannot recommence until he has.

“Secondly, players may at times deliberately take as long as possible to leave the field as a tactical ploy to allow his or her team to get organised in defence before the game recommences.

“In both cases it’s the fans who are impacted, and the NRL is acting in their best interests to ensure they see as much action as possible without unnecessary delays.”

Annesley makes decent points on the crackdown on players dawdling to get off the field.

We want as few delays as possible.

However there is no defence for soft punishment on the tackles like Hazelton and Graham made. Not in this era of concern around the long-term effect of concussions.