The NRL's decision to go ahead with the trial of a radical sin bin rule marked another flashpoint in the league's simmering relationship with the Rugby League Players Association.
The NRL is trialling a left-field rule during the pre-season games which can result in a player who commits a high tackle being sin-binned up to 15 minutes after the act.
During the trial of the rule, the sin bin is only to be used if the player on the receiving end of a high tackle fails a head injury assessment, meaning the tackler remains on the field until the test results are known.
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However, referees still have the power to enforce a send-off at the time of the foul play.
The ARL Commission could sign off on the sin bin rule being introduced for the 2026 NRL season.
Parramatta backrower Shaun Lane, a member of the RLPA's men's player advisory group, told Wide World of Sports that all players on the panel thought the idea was "silly" and voted against it.
"We were consulted on that new sin bin rule with the head knock thing and we all thought it was silly, but the NRL went ahead and decided to trial it in this period anyway," Lane told Wide World of Sports on Monday.
"I just think that waiting 15 minutes until the person fails their SCAT examination — I just think that delay before you then send the person to the bin just sounds silly to me.
"I'd rather the referee just make the decision on the spot and then the person who goes off with the HIA — the results of the examination aren't going to change the decision that the referee made.
"There are different scenarios that could happen in games where, let's say, if someone gets concussed with 10 minutes to go in the game then that person [who committed the high tackle] doesn't actually get sent to the bin [and] the team who had the concussed player doesn't actually receive any benefit from that rule."
Lane pointed out there were other "sticky and weird" scenarios that could arise.
One of those situations is the perpetrator of a high tackle could have as significant an impact on the game as scoring or setting up a try while the testing is being done. In the case of the tackled player failing the test, the tackler would only leave the field after they've had a potentially match-defining impact.
"We all thought it was a bit silly [in the men's player advisory group] and I don't think there was anyone who said 'yes' to it," Lane added.
"I think they [the NRL] have done well [with managing concussion], but I think the sin bin thing is a bit silly."
The RLPA has long been pushing for the NRL to adjust its rules regarding 18th man by allowing teams to call upon their extra man once one player is ruled out of the match. In 2025, teams will again need to have two players ruled out if their 18th man is to be activated.
The RLPA finds it strange that the NRL is trialling the sin bin rule while continuing to bat away its 18th man concern.
One RLPA source told Wide World of Sports the organisation's lobbying regarding 18th man had "continually fallen on deaf ears".
The RLPA is set to announce changes to the men's player advisory panel in the coming weeks, but Wide World of Sports understands president Daly Cherry-Evans, Roosters recruit Chad Townsend and Dolphins veteran Felise Kaufusi were involved in discussions regarding the sin bin rule.
Lane offered an icy insight into the RLPA's relationship with the NRL.
"I think they [the NRL] don't really care a lot of the time," said the Parramatta forward.
"I think they just know what they're trying to work towards for their own motives, and so they go about setting rules based on that, and players and the RLPA probably aren't consulted or our opinion isn't as important as it should be considering we're the ones playing. That's in previous years anyway. I don't know if they're moving forward in a different direction and are wanting to include our opinions more."
Wide World of Sports contacted the NRL for comment.
Beef between RLPA boss Clint Newton and the game's top brass, particularly ARLC chairman Peter V'landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, has often played out publicly.
In 2023, the RLPA took the extraordinary step of enforcing a media boycott amid an ugly fight over collective bargaining agreement discussions.
Later in the 2023 season, as negotiations continued to sour, players covered up the NRL logos on their jerseys.
Amid suggestions the NRL could fine players boycotting media, Newton said: "I look forward to seeing it, because if that's the approach that people are going to take that is just another intimidating and bullying factor."
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