Andrew Johns’ Silent Protest Exposes Growing NRL Frustration
NRL legend Andrew Johns refused to continue commentating on the Sharks vs. Wests Tigers match for Channel 9, drawing attention to widespread frustration with league officiating. Johns staged a silent protest in the commentary box, choosing not to speak during the final 23 minutes of Sunday’s game after what many viewed as a baffling sin-bin decision.
The incident that triggered Johns’ protest was the sin-binning of Fonua Pole, one of 18 such calls in Round 8. Pole was penalized for a seemingly harmless contact with Tom Hazleton that occurred a set earlier, leading the Bunker to intervene and instruct the on-field referee to send him off. A similar call was made the night before when Manly’s Sio Siua Taukeiaho was sin-binned for minimal contact with Isaiah Papalii—neither of whom showed any signs of injury or required an HIA.
On Monday, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo admitted the Bunker had gone too far and announced that going forward, it would only intervene in cases of serious foul play.
Johns’ protest has been seen as a serious red flag. Discussing it on Triple M’s The Journos podcast, journalists Danny Weidler and Michael Chammas said his actions highlighted a major issue. “When someone of Joey’s stature does that, it sends a message,” Weidler said. “He’s earned the right to speak up.”
Chammas praised the NRL for acknowledging its mistake rather than doubling down. “They could have just said ‘we’re sticking with this’—but they didn’t,” he noted.
The NRL’s clampdown on high tackles began after officials failed to act on several dangerous hits in the opening rounds. Some believe it’s a preemptive legal safeguard. However, critics say the decision to retroactively penalize players for minor incidents disrupts the game unnecessarily.
NRL head of football Graham Annesley later clarified that only serious offenses should warrant a stoppage and sin-bin, suggesting that lesser incidents be handled post-match. Johns, speaking on the Sunday Footy Show, called the Bunker’s interference “embarrassing” and argued it should be limited to try-scoring reviews or clear send-offs: “This is beyond a joke.”
