Overview

• Eighteen players were sin-binned in round eight, including 15 for head-contact incidents, marking a record for the NRL.
• The number of high tackles has surged from 200 last season to 379 through eight rounds, leading to more penalties and sin bins.
• NRL CEO Andrew Abdo confirmed there has been no policy change but admitted the bunker has overstepped in its interventions.
• Discrepancies between on-field bunker decisions and post-match review outcomes have occurred in over a third of dangerous-tackle cases this season.
• Abdo pledged to limit the bunker’s role to clear send-offs for serious foul play while maintaining a focus on player safety.