BREAKING: All high tackles will now be instantly sin binned 😳
— Draught Sports (@draughtsports) March 31, 2025
(Via: NRL 360)#NRL pic.twitter.com/Z1HY4A7F7G
We’ve yet to begin the start of round 5 and already the NRL have decided on their latest crackdown.
Just when we thought that the game couldn’t become anymore penalised, on Monday 31 March, Graham Annesley emailed all NRL clubs stating that from here on in, all high tackles would now result in an instant sin-binning. I woke up this morning hoping that this was some early April Fools joke, but no, it’s legit, and equally as comical.
Now I understand that the NRL is trying to protect player welfare so that players like Victor Radley don’t end up like Gary Busey, but this ruling is just ridiculous and going to turn the game into touch footy. We’re going to have games where it’s 11 v 10 over instances that are simply just part of the game. This is a contact sport propped up on the idea that it’s tough, where players are running hard and tackling hard, without the protection gear you see in the NFL. And that is how we even promoted the game over the past two seasons to the Vegas crowd.
I’m all for sin-binning careless, reckless high shots that have heavy impact. But we know that there are going to be so many grey areas that arise when trying to determine what is dangerous vs accidental, and games are going to ultimately be decided on these decisions.
And you can already tell how this whole thing will be officiated. Flashbacks to Magic Round in 2021 where there were 14 sin bins and 3 send offs to completely ruin that whole weekend of footy, only to then see the exact same tackles made later in the year to result in just a penalty. It’s the same recipe they follow for every ‘crackdown’ which constantly leaves fans scratching their heads and pissed off at the inconsistencies that continue to plague the game.
And what a time to announce this too. We’ve got the Roosters taking on the Bunnies Friday night where they will outdo their previous ‘Sin Bin Sunday’ record in the opening 20 minutes. I expect Victor Radley to spend more time in the sheds counting down from 10 minutes than he will on the field.
So prepare yourselves NRL fans, this is going to get ugly.
