‘Mind-boggling’ Cameron Murray sin bin drama exposes NRL lottery

The NRL has a major issue on its hands after bizarre scenes at Accor Stadium left fans and commentators alike clutching at straws.

What was different from the Stephen Crichton hit? Photo: Fox Sports

The NRL has once again shown it’s an absolute lottery after South Sydney’s Cameron Murray was sin binned for an act very similar to the Bulldogs’ Stephen Crichton’s hit on Friday night.

Newcastle ran away with a 36-16 win over South Sydney to keep their finals hopes alive but the sin bin drama has once again stolen the show.

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Just before halftime, Newcastle’s Tyson Frizell was taking a hit up when he appeared to both clash heads with one defender before Murray came in as the fourth man in a tackle, appearing to hit Frizell directly to the face with his bicep.

Frizell appeared to have been knocked out as he dropped the ball and he was ultimately ruled to have shown Category 1 symptoms, meaning he has to have an 11-day stand down and will miss next week’s match.

A penalty was blown immediately and in what appeared to be a win for consistency, Murray was put on report for the high contact.

Fox League’s Warren Smith said: “It is surprising given the drama in Auckland yesterday”.

The situation Smith was referring to was a hit from Bulldogs skipper Crichton, who looked to have hit Warriors centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck with a shoulder charge to the face.

The rugby league world was then shocked after Crichton was put on report but allowed to stay on the field, with the referee citing “a high level of mitigation”.

Spot the difference. Photo: Fox Sports

Warriors coach Andrew Webster blasted the NRL over the call, telling his press conference: “I just think they need to know what they’re doing, personally.”

Tuivasa-Sheck’s failed HIA means that he will not play again this season as the Warriors have a bye in round 27. And salt was rubbed into the wound when Crichton was given a grade two careless high tackle charge by the NRL and is facing a one-game ban with an early plea. It increases to two if he fights it and is found guilty.

But after the Knights chose to go for a penalty goal, it gave plenty of time for the Bunker to check the vision again.

While it was originally ruled as a “low to moderate” impact, Murray was then called out and sin binned by referee Chris Butler.

“This is incredible,” Smith said. “So second time around, the Bunker’s had a rethink.”

Corey Parker said: “I’m not sure how to comment on what we’re seeing over the last couple of games, it’s been mind-boggling.”

“It had to be a sin bin,” Smith said. “If you come in as late as Murray did, he’s held up, he had anywhere from his bootlaces to his shoulders and he made contact directly to the head. It just had to be a sin bin — why was that not obvious to the Bunker first up.”

At halftime, Cooper Cronk said it was the right call and “a sin bin every day of the week”.

On Channel 9, Brad Fittler said it was “a direct reaction from what happened in New Zealand with Stephen Crichton.

“I reckon Graham Annesley’s got on the phone and said get him off,” Fittler added.

Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook then asked the question the NRL was asking, saying to referee Butler: “Where’s the consistency from last night?”

“Come on Damien you know better than that,” Butler replied. “You have that one planned before the game?”

Eventually he got his marching orders. Photo: Fox Sports

Phil Gould added: “Funny game rugby league.”

The daughter of former NRL referee Gavin Badger Shante tweeted: “As a diehard Souths fan, it’s a sin bin every day of the week BUT the precedent was set last night so because of that it shouldn’t have been.”

NewsWire contributor Jack Blyth wrote: “So that Cameron Murray hit was a sin bin, but the Stephen Crichton one wasn’t. Rugby league, folks.”

WWOS’ The Mole posted: “Cam Murray can thank Stephen Crichton for that sin bin.”

Coast FM 963’s Daniel McCamley wrote: “That wasn’t a sin bin last night.”

Lifelong Souths fan Aaron Eugol tweeted: “It’s the right decision but the process used was laughable because if the Knights had taken the tap instead of the penalty goal, they wouldn’t have had time to review it a second time and sin bin Murray.”

Another fan commented: “Confusion reigns in the bunker. Everyone but them knew it was a sin bin after one viewing …”

The Knights led 20-12 at halftime before running out to a 30-12 lead before Souths replied with 10 minutes late.

But it was way too little too late as the Knights joined the group of the Broncos, Dolphins and Raiders on 26 competition points.

They will all be hoping for the Sharks to beat the Dragons on Sunday because if St George win, it will open up a four-point game for the Dragons.

It would essentially lock in the top eight as the Dragons face the equal last placed Eels in round 26 and would be expected to win which would make the task impossible for the chasing pack.