Sharks player Daniel Atkinson and Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo wary of NRL’s sin bin crackdown

One of the central figures in the NRL sin bin crackdown for high shots says he hopes it doesn’t lead to matches being decided by players taking dives, while Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo has backed his hooker Reed Mahoney.

One of the central figures in the NRL implementing a sin bin crackdown for high shots says he hopes it doesn’t lead to matches being decided by players feigning injury or taking dives.

Sharks utility Daniel Atkinson said players “would ruin the spirit of the game” by staying down for a penalty or sin bin despite the 24-year-old being forced to cop an unnecessary late shot to the head from Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney at Sharks Stadium last Saturday night.

The incident sparked outrage among fans and commentators with many believing that Mahoney should have been immediately sin-binned instead of remaining on the field.

Despite Atkinson suggesting that he was willing to “move on” from the late shot that saw Mahoney fined $1,800 by the match review committee, it – and a number of other high tackles from last weekend – has clearly raised the ire of the NRL.

Sharks utility Dan Atkinson. Picture: NRL Photos

The governing body has declared that any forceful high contact will result in a sin bin, beginning in the upcoming round five when the Raiders host the Sharks at GIO Stadium on Thursday night.

Atkinson said he could appreciate why the NRL wants to protect players, but additionally hoped the crackdown didn’t prompt players to stay down in the hope of influencing match officials, the video bunker or the result of a game.

“I know they are cracking down on head shots. I think all the players are aware of it,” Atkinson said. ”Some are accidental.

“Some are when you’re falling and you’re bracing for impact.

“You don’t mean to head high someone.

“I hope it doesn’t lead players to stay down. That would just ruin the spirit of the game.

“You don’t want to lose a game or win a game by staying down because of foul play.

“If it’s a legitimate head high I can understand.

“But no one means to shoulder someone in the face, stuff happens on the field.”

‘Accidents happen’: Top Dogs split on high shot crackdown

-Fatima Kdouh

Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo fears an overcorrection in the officiating of head high contact after the NRL announced a sin bin crackdown, putting all 17 NRL clubs on notice.

It comes as Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton backed the NRL’s crackdown even if it means more players are sent to the sin bin.

The NRL’s head of football Graham Annesley sent an email to all clubs late on Monday afternoon, admitting that match officials had failed to adhere to rules in place around forceful and direct contact to the head last weekend.

Annesley identified four incidents, including one involving Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney, that should have resulted in a sin bin at the time but were only penalised by the on-field referee.

Reed Mahoney piles on Daniel Atkinson.

While Ciraldo supports protecting players from foul play, the coach said his side was preparing for the risk of an over correction by referees this weekend when the Bulldogs take on Newcastle on Sunday.

The coach also made sure to share the email sent to clubs by Annesley with his playing group first thing on Tuesday morning before training.

“Yeah, but we’ve got to prepare for anything I suppose,” Ciraldo said when asked if he was worried about an overcorrection.

“If there are more sin bins or penalties or whether we are preparing for that … we are also just preparing to keep getting better as a football team.

“We showed the players the email this morning. But it’s common sense really, obviously no one goes out there to attack the head and neck area, but accidents do happen.

“As long as we are making as it safe for the players, that’s the main thing.”

Mahoney was put on report for a high shot on Cronulla’s Toby Rudolf and then cited for a late shot on Daniel Atkinson while the playmaker was lying on the ground last weekend.

Cameron Ciraldo has backed Reed Mahoney’s discipline. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images

He escaped being sin binned on both occasions and was then slapped with a fine over the incidents.

But Ciraldo backed the fiery hooker’s aggression even if it means he is labelled a “liability”.

“We are really happy with how he is going, he has worked really hard on his discipline over the past 12 months, I think he has come a long way,” Ciraldo said.

“He probably had one play in the 80 minutes that he got slightly wrong … Reed has been at the forefront of us building our identity over the last couple of years. We have built really hard at building a work ethic and competitiveness and Reed is at the forefront of that.”

Crichton conceded Mahoney could have done more to protect Atkinson but backed the aggressive mindset of the dummy-half.

“Reed’s at a point of his career where he knows what his best game looks like,” Crichton said.

“I feel that the edge of us sticking up to other teams is very special in our group. I feel like in the past that we’ve let that stuff slide, so it’s good to see our boys sticking up for themselves.”

Crichton supported the news of a crackdown, saying protecting players now is vital to ensuring their health post-career.

Captain Stephen Crichton welcomes the crackdown. Picture: NRL PHOTOS

“I feel like it’s (crackdown) definitely going to happen. But I see where the NRL is coming with just protecting players and things like that,” Crichton said.

“I feel like what the NRL is doing is trying to protect players with things like HIAs and looking after the player’s brains off the field as well, I’m a massive believer in that too.

“There is a massive life (to live) after footy and looking after yourself while you’re in the career is important.

“Every team is in the same boat now and knows what it looks like, there are no 50-50 calls, if there is contact to the head, you are gone.”

While Mahoney is free to take on the Knights, Ciraldo will be without Sitili Tupouniua after the forward was hit with a one-week ban for a shoulder charge on Braydon Trindall.

The coach maintained that Tupouniua’s tackle was not illegal.

“I didn’t think it was high, I didn’t think it was that late, I don’t think it was a shoulder charge. Trying to explain to Sitili how he could be better next time was tough,” Ciraldo said.

“I can’t say too much about it, but it is confusing sometimes.”