Three sin bins, no bans in latest twist to chaotic Anzac Round blighted by crackdown
Updated . First published at
Kodi Nikorima, Briton Nikora and Fonua Pole have all escaped bans despite being sent to the sin bin on Sunday as part of the NRL's crackdown on high tackles.
It takes the full sum of the round eight's charge sheet to 19 players and 20 offences, totalling $17,350 in fines (assuming all players fined accept the charge and pay) and up to 23 weeks of suspensions.
All told, 18 players were sent to the sin bin across the eight matches in round eight.
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In Sunday action, Nikorima, Nikora and Pole were all sent to the bin for high shots on Savelio Tamale, Jarome Luai and Thomas Hazelton respectively.
Kodi Nikorima whacks Savelio Tamale high. Nine
On Monday morning, the trio were slapped with a grade one careless high tackle charge. Nikorima and Pole will be $1000 poorer for a first offence, and Nikora $1800 for a second.
While there was little argument about Nikora's shot on Luai, Pole's was far less obvious.
Initially missed in live play, Pole was sent to the bin several plays later after the bunker intervened.
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"No, don't tell me that's it ... that's a joke," Andrew Johns said in commentary for Nine as replays flashed across screens.
The eighth immortal had earlier in the day blown up at the NRL's "farcical" crackdown on high shots and the subsequent epidemic of sin bins.
The spotlight will be on the league's bosses ahead of Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium this weekend.
