Debate has raged over whether Souths’ win over the Roosters in what was dubbed “Sin Bin Sunday” was gripping must-see entertainment or a farce that was bad for the game.
Seven sin bins marred what was shaping as a final classic, but arguably descended into a farce that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.
“Was this game one of the best finals games ever or was it a complete debacle?” Braith Anasta asked on NRL 360.
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“I loved it.”
James Hooper agreed that it was hard to take your eyes away from the action as players were sent to the sin bin a record seven times.
“I loved it as well,” Hooper said.
“It was complete carnage. The players were all red lining from the get go, but it was gripping theatre. You couldn’t look away.”
However, Phil Rothfield believes the incidents led to James Tedesco being taken off for a HIA and he did not return, robbing the fans of watching the game’s best player in action.
“Did you love seeing the game’s best player knocked out of the game,” Rothfield interjected.
“It is a tough game Phil, that can happen in a game of rugby league,” Hooper replied.
Rothfield believes two players cost the Roosters the game in what is becoming a worrying trend in matches between the two fierce rivals.
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“I think the Roosters need to have a long hard look at themselves, particularly Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Victor Radley,” Rothfield said in NRL 360.
“The previous week when they beat Souths Radley didn’t play and Waerea-Hargreaves played 14 minutes and they played football and they beat Souths.
“I know it wasn’t different yesterday because Tedesco wasn’t there for most of the game, but I think those two players have cost the Roosters the chance of moving forward.”
Paul Kent dismissed suggestions the game was an example of the toughness in rugby league.
“Trent Robinson said after the game it descended, the game descended into what it became,” Kent said.
“That is not a wrap for the game.
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“Secondly, he said when there was football moments, which indicated there were moments that weren’t football. When there was football moments Souths handled it better.
“There is no doubt Buzz is right, the Roosters didn’t handle those moments as well as they should have and it has cost them the game.
“All those people who talk about how tough it was and how great it was to see. There is nothing tough in that.
“I could walk into the middle of that and wouldn’t walk out with a bruise. No one throws a punch anymore.”
However, Hooper defended the physicality of the contest from both sides.
“I don’t think you can say it wasn’t a physical game,” Hooper said.
“I get your argument that it wasn’t tough as in 1981 Manly and Newtown, but it was an immensely physical contest.”
However, Kent believes the word brave has no business being associated with some of the actions from the players in the game.
“There is nothing brave about when a bloke is handled by two men and being the third man in and smashing his head into the ground,” Kent said.
“That was disgraceful the head slam,” Rothfield interjected.
“There is nothing brave or tough about a guy in a tackle and again being the third man in and clipping him across the chin so he stumbles when he gets up to play the ball,” Kent continued.
“These people who are under this illusion that this is toughness and this is what we want in our game are kidding themselves.
“This is not the way the game should be going.”
Hooper agreed there was some moments that were not tough, but believes the unique game made for excellent entertainment.
“I’m not saying it was tough, but it was gripping theatre and entertainment,” Hooper said.
“Everybody I have spoken to today had a similar opinion.”
“Not for the right reasons,” Kent interjected.
“Not for the right reasons, but you couldn’t take your eyeballs away from the game,” Hooper said.
However, Kent believes rugby league is in danger of descending into what the game used to laugh at other codes over.
“That would then throw the balance back to Buzz’s way that it was not the game that everybody from the “how tough is rugby league school” are saying it was because there were a lot of cheap shots out there,” Kent said.
“All these melees we used to sit there as a game and laugh at the AFL when they had these melees and they would all shirt front each other and no one would throw a punch.
“There would be 19 guys in there and no one would throw a punch. That’s what we have become.
“Now, I’m not saying throw the punch, but the NRL needs to just go, you know what third man in you’re off.”
Kent also defended the match officials over claims they lost control of the game as evidence by Ashley Klein setting the standard with Radley’s questionable early sin bin.
“As for claims Ashley Klein lost control, Ashley Klein set a really low standard early in the game when he put Radley in the sin bin,” Kent said.
“For all these people saying the referee failed to set a benchmark, of the seven sin bins that was certainly the lightest.
“I agree that should not have been a sin bin, but that is the barometer he has set.
“The players lost control. Do not blame the referee for this.
“That was a low contact tackle. There was nothing in it and he got sent to the sin bin.
“Now if the players copped the tip, if he is going to go for that I better keep my arms down.
“Instead they went the other way. The incidents got more severe.
“I love Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. He is the protector. He is the big dog. I like that in Waerea-Hargreaves. There is no doubt he goes out there to protect his teammates and be the player that makes the other side nervous.
“But it just went too far and not just from him, but from a lot of players out there.
“Tom Burgess was out of control and Waerea-Hargreaves said, I need to square up and slow this bloke down and he did that. He did it the wrong way, but he did that.
“But you can’t just sit here and keep endorsing these sorts of incidents and say this is what we need more of in rugby league.”
