Rugby league great Andrew Johns has launched an impassioned argument against what he calls “farcical” officiating amid the game's current high shot crackdown.
A total of 15 players have been sent to the sin bin across the opening five games of round eight, while six players are looking at suspensions.
While some incidents, such as Sitili Tupouniua's raised knee, are absolutely worth some time on the sidelines, Johns has raised questions around others, in particular Scott Sorensen's impending suspension for what has been deemed a grade two shoulder charge.
MORE: Round 8 judiciary wrap | NRL injury list
The Panthers backrower was sent to the bin and is looking at a two-match ban for a shot on Manly firebrand Nathan Brown.
'Absolutely farcical': Johns blows up over officiating
“Nathan Brown is about 100 kilos, coming off the back fence,” Johns said on the Sunday Footy Show.
“We need to know what [Sorensen] can do. If he puts his arms out, to make a conventional tackle, his head is going to be exposed and he’ll probably dislocate his shoulders.
“They want players to defend low, but if Scott Sorensen goes low on Nathan Brown he's gonna knock himself out as cold as a spud.
“If he wraps his arms, he will dislocate his shoulder - he has to brace and get himself into space. I have no idea what the NRL want this tackle to be and they have to come out tomorrow and explain what tackle they want in this situation.
“For that to get two weeks is absolutely farcical.
“This sending players do the bin, it’s absolutely farcical. It’s gone beyond a joke, it is embarrassing.”
Sorensen will now miss matches against the Broncos and Cowboys with an early guilty plea, or risk a third game if he fights the charge and loses.
Johns continued, pointing to general state of officiating as a major frustration.
“The over-analysis and the over-reach of the Bunker in play - the Bunker should only be used for try-scoring opportunities unless it’s an out and out send off and they miss it,” he said.
“Next week, we’re going to Magic Round. We are a working-class game, our fans are working class people, they save up all year to go to Magic Round.
“For them to go out there and make a farce of this game will be disgraceful if it happens this week. I am so frustrated by it, I reckon they players would be frustrated by it.
“Who owns the game? It’s the fans. Without the fans watching on TV, there is no broadcast rights, without the fans going to the games, there is no money in the game.”
“I don’t know whose decision it is, but you need to come out tomorrow, and you need to say why we’re doing it and you need to show examples and what you want players to do with tackling techniques because this is a farce, it is so embarrassing for the game.”