SUPERCOACH WAYNE BENNETT EXPLAINS WHY AUSSIES WOULD BE MAD TO BET A SINGLE CENT ON THE NRL: 'I HAVE TO SPEAK UP FOR THE GAME I LOVE'

• Wayne Bennett has called for urgent changes in the NRL
• Feels the Bunker has to go, officiating must improve
• Bennett spoke out amid grave fears 'for the game he loves'

Supercoach Wayne Bennett has questioned the relevance of the NRL Bunker before criticising the standard of refereeing, declaring: 'if I was a punter I couldn't bet a penny on rugby league at the moment.'

Bennett, 74, also wants to see the sin bin abolished and send-off rules changed.

'I have to stand up for the players and the game I have spent my whole life being a part of and loving,' the Dolphins head coach told Fox Sports.

'We can't hide and pretend it is not a problem..it [officiating] is causing massive frustration, not just with the players and coaches, but the fans.'

Bennett - who will return to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2025 - pointed to glaring inconsistences in NRL games in recent weeks.

He said four of his Dolphins players have copped head knocks the past fortnight - and in each instance, no penalty was awarded.

In one match, a doctor felt star centre Herbie Farnworth was concussed, so he was removed from the field for a Head Injury Assessment (HIA).

In contrast, the referee accused the English international of feigning to be injured on the field.

Bennett's proposed solution was simple - if any player is hit in the head - unless it is clearly accidental - then it should be a penalty.

The supercoach - who has won seven NRL premierships dating back to 1992 with the Broncos - wasn't finished yet.

He wants the sin-bin to be scrapped entirely, and if a player is sent off, teams then can call on a replacement player after 10 minutes.

Bennett also suggested the send-off should cost the offending team three interchanges - while the player given an early shower should not return to the contest.

Areas of the NRL Bennett admires includes the salary cap and the strength of the 17-team competition. 

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2024-06-28T05:58:21Z dg43tfdfdgfd