- Footy fans were stunned after Stephen Crichton wasn’t sin-binned
- Bulldogs skipper used his shoulder in brutal tackle against Warriors
- Left Roger Tuivasa-Sheck concussed, later ruled out for the season
- Multiple Sea Eagles players sin-binned for similar offences on Thursday
Fed up footy fans and former greats such as Panthers legend Mark Geyer have accused the NRL of double standards after a vicious high shot from Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton went unpunished.
It comes after three Sea Eagles players were sin-binned during a shock defeat against the Tigers on Thursday at Leichhardt Oval.
In Auckland on Friday night, Crichton’s shoulder smashed into Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s head early in the second half, and many supporters instantly assumed the Samoan international would have a 10-minute spell following the brutal contact.
Referee Wyatt Raymond then stunned fans – and Warriors players – after declaring on-field there was a ‘high level of mitigation in the tackle.’
It came despite Tuivasa-Sheck being visibly concussed following the collision.
The centre was then ruled out of the game following a category one HIA, which also meant his season has come to a premature end due to NRL concussion protocols.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster spoke for many in the post-match press conference when he stated the lack of consistency from match officials is a concern.
‘I’m struggling to understand how a shoulder can go into Roger’s head and the bunker can [rule as they did], in a critical time in the game,’ he said.
Fed up footy fans have accused the NRL of double standards after a vicious high shot from Bulldogs captain Stephen Crichton (pictured) on Friday night went unpunished
Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was visibly concussed following the collision and won’t play again this season
‘We’ve got to protect our players. And I just don’t see the consistency, one little bit around that.’
On X, Panthers legend Mark Geyer how the Sea Eagles were heavily penalised for similar offences – and former Queensland Origin prop Martin Lang felt Crichton should have been sent off.
Footy fans also took to social media to post their frustration.
‘Stephen Crichton quickly becoming the NRLs golden child. Insanity that he’s still on the field,’ posted one.
Another said: ‘The decision making is a lottery.’
A third weighed in with: ‘How the hell isn’t Crichton binned?! What a joke! Because he’s the protected species, the glory boy of the NRL.
‘This officiating is at an all-time low.’
On Saturday, the NRL Judiciary released their findings from Friday’s two games – and Crichton will miss one NRL match – next week against the Sea Eagles – after he was charged with a Grade 2 careless high tackle.
