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NRL official axed, fine looms for Robinson

3 minute read

The NRL has removed Henry Perenara out of the bunker for the rest of round 24 after he failed to have Latrell Mitchell sent off for hitting Joey Manu high.

Roosters coach TRENT ROBINSON.
Roosters coach TRENT ROBINSON. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Trent Robinson got his wish with Henry Perenara removed from the NRL bunker, but the Sydney Roosters coach could still face a hefty fine for his spray following the loss to South Sydney.

The NRL moved swiftly on Saturday to take bunker official Perenara out of action for the clash between Melbourne and Parramatta after he failed to have the Rabbitohs' Latrell Mitchell sent off for a high shot on Joey Manu.

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo also confirmed to AAP that he thought Mitchell should have been sent rather than sin-binned.

Mitchell has been charged with a grade-two reckless high tackle, meaning the South Sydney superstar will miss up to nine matches for the hit.

Manu meanwhile underwent surgery on a fractured cheekbone, with his season likely to be over after the high shot in the 54-12 loss.

"I think he should have been sent off. I was disappointed he wasn't sent off," Abdo told AAP.

"But sometimes decisions made on the field aren't the right ones and it's our job to review those.

"But equally he is a human being and everyone is piling in on the individual.

"So I don't think he is in the best frame of mind to officiate this weekend, particularly with the pressure he is under.

"He has made a bad decision, and there are consequences but personal attacks are unwarranted and have no place in our game.

"There is no place for abuse in our game whatsoever."

Abdo did however insist that the incident was immediately referred to the bunker by the touch judge, and it did not go unnoticed for a minute as it originally appeared.

Regardless, the fallout has largely justified Robinson's frustration over Mitchell not being marched from the field.

But it's understood the NRL is concerned with the manner in which he made his point.

Robinson's entire press conference is likely to be the subject of analysis on Monday, most notably where he questioned Perenara's knowledge of the game.

"Perenara, who's supposed to know some footy, sitting up in the box, and then doesn't do anything about it for 30 or 40 or 50 seconds, doesn't do a thing about it," Robinson fumed.

"Get out of there (the bunker).

"If you can't do it get out of there, or just get rid of it all completely. If you cannot do the job, get out of there.

"It's shown that the NRL bunker cannot do their job this year. It's been a farce, it's been an absolute farce."

Robinson's frustration also came over the fact Liam Knight was not sin-binned for a hip-drop on Suisiua Taukeiaho, that left the Roosters prop injured and needing scans on his knees on Saturday.

Robinson also harked back to the NRL's failure to send off St George Illawarra winger Jordan Periera or even sin-bin Parramatta's Marata Niukore for high shots on James Tedesco this year, sparking the league's crackdown.

"I've got this thing about that circus music going on up there in the background, and streamers ... it's like the twilight zone up there when the Roosters are playing," Robinson said.

"It was laughable, it was that bad. They don't know what they were doing."

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