LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The NRL is standing firm in the face of criticism over referee decisions, with one Bunker official facing consequences for a "poor judgment call" involving Stephen Crichton.
NRL bigwig Graham Annesley has backed his refs despite admitting that the decision to let Bulldogs skipper Crichton off the hook for a high tackle on Warriors player Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was incorrect.
Round 25 of the NRL saw plenty of contentious calls, especially regarding high tackles and sin bins, following a fiery clash where three Manly players were given marching orders.
Fans were left stunned as Crichton escaped punishment for a hit that left Tuivasa-Sheck sidelined, with many arguing it was worse than a similar incident involving Manly's Haumole Olakau'atu.
Despite this, the Bunker official ruled that Crichton did not deserve a stint in the bin.
In his weekly debrief, Annesley acknowledged the error and hinted that the responsible Bunker official, Liam Kennedy, would be benched for a "poor judgment call".
This incident marked the peak of a season rife with 30 penalties for high shots in Round 25, sparking concerns about player safety.
"We've reviewed the audio and it's clear that this was simply a case of misjudgment," Annesley clarified.
"The Bunker official failed to fully consider the impact of the tackle, overlooking the severity of the incident in their assessment criteria."