Is Being Put 'On Report' A Suitable Punishment?

In light of four more Super League players being charged with offences from round three, the question has once again been raised about the issue of players being put ‘on report’ during games and whether or not this is sufficient punishment.

For me, it simply is not. Yes, the player who has been put ‘on report’ has their incident reviewed by the RFL Match Review Panel and they are often subject to a punishment such as a match ban or fine but the problem is, this is done days after the incident first occurred.

So, if a player gets say a one match ban, who is this benefiting? The team they play in the next round of course. And the opposition they were playing at the time of the incident? Well they get nothing. If the particular incident meant one of their players had to leave the field which consequently weakened their team and led to them losing, then that’s it, they have lost. Where is the fairness in that?

If a player has committed an offence significant enough for them to be put ‘on report’ by a referee, then surely 10 minutes in the sin bin or even a red card for the more serious circumstances would benefit the team it was committed against much more than the accused getting a one match ban the week after.

It’s a cop out, plain and simple. The accused player gets away with it. Yes, he may face a punishment later on in the week but in that moment, he can continue on and help his side to a victory. It’s worth taking the chance that they may not receive punishment for it anyway, even after it has been reviewed.

If players knew that if they committed an offence, the consequences were immediate, they would be much less likely to do it in the first place. If the player is instantly removed from the field, they are not just letting themselves down but the whole team.

It’s about time this issue was reviewed and it was noted just how much players are getting away with bad behaviour, highlighted recently with some of the incidents we have seen in the first couple of rounds. Yes, this is a physical game and I myself like to see a bit of spirit but there is a line and if a player crosses it then they should face punishment immediately, not wait until a week later when the damage has already been done.

http://www.superleaguefans.com/rugby-league/2013/02/20/is-being-put-on-report-a-suitable-punishment.html