Cowboys second-rower Coen Hess and Dolphins five-eighth Kodi Nikorima could be in trouble with the match review committee after copping contentious sin bins in their clash in Townsville.
In the 26th minute Hess was sin-binned for a late tackle on Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa after he passed the ball.
“Katoa was smashed down after passing,” Andrew Voss said.
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Preston binned over hip-drop tackle! | 00:41
“And the penalty will come as a result. Hang on, is it going to be more than that here.”
Referee Adam Gee placed Hess on report and sent him for a 10 minute spell.
“It is late, it’s in the hands of the receiver when there is contact, there’s whiplash, on report and in the bin,” Gee said.
“He’s in the sin bin,” Voss said.
“It’s late, whiplash and 10 in the bin. That’s what we are hearing a lot of.”
Shane Flanagan believes the players should know the rules by now and the way the referees are policing late tackles.
“We all know that’s the rules,” Flanagan said.
MORE NRL NEWS
BIG HITS: Hat-trick hero Latrell stuns in ‘special’ show as Dogs’ injury crisis deepens
‘DEADLY ON THIS’: Dogs gun sin-binned for hip drop tackle as Souths flyer injured
‘FILTHY IF YOU DO THAT’: Souths coach’s tirade over ‘lazy’ hip drop tackles
‘GOT TO BE BETTER’: Dogs coach, captain fume after ‘pretty embarrassing’ loss
“As we all know when a ball player passes or anyone lets the ball go, he’s relaxed.
“He’s relaxed and his support player has already received the ball.
“I agree with it 10 minutes in the bin.”
However Luke Keary believes Hess was hard done by to get sin-binned.
“It’s borderline,” Keary said.
“As a half obviously we are in a vulnerable position. In slow motion it looks worse than what it was, but I don’t think that is a sin bin.
“As a half you don’t want to get hit like that, but you still need that in the game where halves know that someone is coming to pressure them.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
Trell’s 150th marked with 3 min BRACE! | 00:55
“He didn’t have any malice in that. He nearly had his hands up at the end. I don’t think that’s a sin bin.”
Meanwhile, in the 38th minute Nikorima was sin-binned for a lifting tackle on Riley Price.
“Has Kodi Nikorima got a problem here,” Voss said.
“It was head first into the ground. I think he is gone here. Now the Dolphins are going to be down to 12.”
The referee again opted to place Nikorima on report and send him for a 10 minute sit down.
“Hand between the legs, head hits the ground first, on report and in the bin,” Gee said.
Flanagan believes players run the risk when they put their hand between the legs and lift.
“You just can’t do it,” Flanagan said.
Rabbitohs Press Conference | 06:43
“You just can’t put your hands between their legs and lift above the horizontal, which he did on that occasion and we heard his head came in contact with the ground.”
Greg Alexander conceded it was not the worst lifting tackle, but admitted that is the way the game is being officiated and players have to adapt.
“It was just a bit awkward,” Alexander said.
“The fact he got his hands through the legs, that was the criteria that the Bunker was looking for.
“There wasn’t a great deal in it. He ducked his head down. He put his hand down to brace himself.
“It’s a tough one. It is not a terrible tackle, but that’s where we are now. Just what we saw from Coen Hess and Nikorima, that’s where the game is at the moment.”
