'There would have to be strict parameters': Issues with five-minute sin bin

NRL GM of elite football Graham Annesley has confirmed that consideration would be given to reintroducing a five-minute sin bin, but cautioned that it could lead to accusations of inconsistency.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson backed Dolphins mentor Wayne Bennett’s call for a review of a review of the NRL’s on-field disciplinary system after Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau was sin-binned for a lifting tackle on Sunday night.

Koroisau was not charged by the Match Review Committee and Annesley said he should not have been sinbinned for the tackle on Roosters prop Lindsay Collins.

The Fiji hooker was the 71st player sinbinned this season, including NSW second-rower Liam Martin and Maroons forward Pat Carrigan after a melee in last Wednesday night's Origin at the MCG.

Bennett proposed only using the sin bin for professional fouls, while there have also been suggestions that the NRL reintroduce the five-minute sinbin and Annesley said that would be considered at the end of the season.

“Changes to the sin bin have been considered over the last few years,” Annesley said.

“There’s been talk about whether a five-minute sin bin should be introduced or not, and the Commission has decided not to do that.

“There are a variety of reasons for that, not the least of which is to have some level of consistency between what constitutes a five-minute sin bin as opposed to 10-minutes in the bin.

“We used to have five-minute sin bins and 10-minute sin bins, and the reason that was eliminated was because of accusations of inconsistency, with some players going for five minutes and others going for 10-minutes.

“There would have to be very, very strict parameters around the difference between the two so you didn't go down that path again with the inconsistency between the five and 10-minute periods in the bin.”

However, Annesley said an end of season review by the ARL Commission was likely to discuss whether to reintroduce the five-minute sin bin, which was scrapped in 1991.

“The premise of the question is would the commission look at these matters at the end of the year. They'll look at everything, they'll consult widely,” Annesley said.

“Along with the NRL management, we'll consult with clubs, the coaches and all stakeholders in the game to determine whether there are any aspects of our rules that need to be reviewed or not.

“Sin bins and send offs are not new to the game, everyone knows, that any step outside of the boundaries of the laws of the game can risk stronger action than just on field penalties and everyone has to play within those guidelines.”

Meanwhile, Annesley said that Koroisau’s tackle on Collins in Sunday night’s 40-6 win by the Roosters warranted a penalty but not a sin bin. Koroisau was not charged by the Match Review Committee.

“The factors that the Match Review Committee look at for are obviously the lift, whether the player reaches a dangerous position or not, whether it's more likely than not that the head or neck is going to make contact with the ground and the final factor is what actually does happen when the player hits the ground.

“In this case, the head and neck does not hit the ground so I have no problem with this being penalised and placed on report, but I don't think it reaches the mark for a sin bin offence.

“Clearly the match review committee didn't feel it reached that level for a charge but, certainly, it’s a dangerous practice and one that should be penalised, and was penalised, and should be placed on report."