NRL Bunker inconsistency leads to major review

A controversial weekend of calls from the Bunker has led to an uproar around the system’s inconsistency, triggering NRL bosses to promise major changes on Monday morning.

Three separate incidents across the Sea Eagles vs Tigers and Warriors vs Bulldogs matches were ruled on differently, with players sent to the sin vin for high shots in some cases but not others.

Haumole Olakau’atu and Corey Waddell were sin binned for Manly on Friday night, with the Bunker ruling each made high contact while tackling.

Just 24 hours later, however, Canterbury’s Stephen Crichton was given the same treatment for a clash with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck that looked to be a carbon copy of the incidents earlier in the round.

Powers that be promise overhaul of Bunker

NRL bosses Andrew Abbo and Peter V’Landys both spoke up on the matter, assuring that action would be taken.

“There is going to be a major, major review of the football department,” they said, by way of journalist Phil Rothfield.

“The Bunker, the refereeing. Everything.

“They’ll leave nothing on the side and try to come up with at least some form of formula where the fans of our great game can at least switch on the TV, go to the games and get some level of consistency.”

Prominent voices in rugby league shared their discontent about the weekend’s officiating.

“There’s a real frustration in our game between players, coaches, and it’s rife with our fans at the moment with the inconsistency,” said former NRL player Michael Ennis.

Ennis’ former teammate, James Graham, also opined that the competition’s officiating is a “complete guessing game”.

Later in the weekend, when the Sydney Roosters lost Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for 10 minutes, the Gold Coast Titans coach shared his frustration as well.

“There’s not a lot of confidence at the moment with players and their interpretation around what’s a high shot and what isn’t,” said Des Hasler, despite his side being the beneficiaries of Waerea-Hargreaves heading to the sin bin.

With such fine margins in the 2024 NRL season, teams can ill afford to have calls going against them unnecessarily from the Bunker.

Five teams are still vying for the eighth spot on the NRL ladder.

Leading sports bookmakers have the St George Illawarra Dragons as favourite to book their place in the off-season, with $1.70 on offer.

The Brisbane Broncos ($5) and Newcastle Knights ($5.75) are in the mix too, while the Dolphins ($11) and Canberra Raiders ($34) are considered outside chances.

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