Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson says he won’t be silenced after $10,000 fine for blast at referees

Trent Robinson is one of the NRL’s most articulate and honest coaches, and the game can’t afford to lose that if he opts to be silent out of the fear he could receive a fine.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson won’t stop expressing his views on matters he deems unfair or incorrect despite copping a $10,000 fine from the NRL for labelling the bunker’s process “incompetent”. Photo: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson won’t stop expressing his views on issues he sees as unfair or wrong despite copping a $10,000 fine from the NRL for labelling the bunker’s process “incompetent”.

Robinson didn’t name individuals but called out the entire officiating crew and the NRL Bunker over their handling of an incident that left five-eighth Drew Hutchison hospitalised.

Parramatta playmaker Dylan Brown led with his knees in attempting to save a try as Hutchison dived for the tryline in the 40th minute of the Round 9 clash.

Brown was put on report around 20 minutes after the incident and didn’t inform Robinson of the decision until the players were running back on for the second half.

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson vows to maintain honest opinion despite $10,000 fine. Photo: Mark Evans/Getty Images.

Robinson’s $10,000 penalty has been suspended on the proviso he refrains from reoffending, but it won’t stop him from speaking on the game’s important matters.

“I’m here to give some commentary on my view of the game, and I think censorship when it is done in the right way, and I felt like I did that, is not really want our game wants,” he said.

“Shining the light on a process is a bit different to questioning the integrity of referees or officials.

“There is a grey line there, but I wouldn’t have changed the press conference that I gave. I can understand the rules around the integrity of the refs, but questioning the process I think was fair and justified.

“And if they believe that is a breach, then it is a breach, but I wouldn’t have changed anything that I said in that press conference.

“It has been backed up by what the NRL has done in relation to those incidents, but that is life.

“It is not going to hurt the NRL, and it is not going to change the way I think or talk about things, so I’ll just move on.”

Meanwhile, Robinson would ideally sign teenage star Sam Walker at Bondi for a decade but for now he is happy with a two-year deal.

He confirmed Walker’s extension until the end of 2023 on Thursday, joking that he tried to convince Roosters officials to lock in the 18-year-old for much longer.

“I said 10 (years) but that didn’t (happen) but we did (talk longer) but being really honest about landing on that number is hard,” he said.

“It’s obviously been quite quick, the negotiations, but trying to work out the value of an 18-year-old halfback is, and that‘s taken a couple of weeks.

“It‘s been very clear from (his family) Ben, Kylie, Sam and their management that this was the place for him a couple of years ago and this is the place for him the next couple of years.

“It’s been great to get it done and keep Sam rolling on.”

Roosters coach Trent Robinson couldn’t be happier to re-sign rising playmaker Sam Walker on a two-year deal. Photo: Matt King/Getty Images.

Originally published as Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson says he won’t be silenced after $10,000 fine for blast at referees