Kearney has confidence in NRL refs

Stephen Kearney has been given reassurances by the NRL and is now confident its referees will use the sin bin if a controversial new rule continues to be exploited.

The Warriors coach has been quick to point out he blames his own side for the 26-0 loss to the Penrith Panthers last Friday night, but he and assistant coach Tony Iro have been vocal about the Panthers blatant attempts to exploit the six-again rule early in the tackle count.

As he suggested he would at the weekend, Kearney took the matter up with the NRL this week.

‘‘I have followed it up and I feel confident enough that the NRL will make the appropriate assessment of it,’’ Kearney said yesterday.

The new six-again rule gives referees the ability to restart a set with six more tackles for ruck infringements, instead of stopping the game for a penalty.

But in order to slow the game down, defensive teams are pushing the boundaries early in the tackle count because if they do get called for six again, the infringement counts for little and if they don’t get pinged, they eliminate any chance of a fast play the ball.

‘‘In our particular match, I think the Panthers committed seven six again infringements and six of them were on – if not zero tackle – on the first tackle,’’ Kearney said.

‘‘I’ve brought it to their attention in our case on Friday, so I’m sure if a trend continues they’ll make the necessary adjustment that they’ll need to.’’

The trend was not something Kearney has noticed across the board in other NRL matches, but he acknowledges there have only been two rounds since the new rule was introduced during the Covid-19 enforced shut down.

In other reassuring news for Kearney, centre Peta Hiku is firming as a much-needed late inclusion for the Warriors’ round five encounter against the Cowboys tomorrow.

Hiku was forced to leave the field with a rib complaint during the Warriors’ 18-0 victory over the Dragons late last month and missed the loss to the Panthers.

He has been named on an extended bench but has come through an all-important contact training yesterday.

‘‘He’s tracking along OK,’’ Kearney said.

Kearney has confirmed Hiku will be a straight swap with the promising but still developing Hayze Perham should he be ready to go, meaning Patrick Herbert will retain his spot on the wing.

Herbert’s work-rate has been impressive, but he was caught out under the high ball against the Panthers and finished the match with four handling errors.

Despite a lack of options due to injuries, Herbert has to be considered lucky to retain his spot given Kearney is desperate to cut down on mistakes against the Cowboys.

He said holding onto the ball and finishing off their sets more effectively were their key work-ons this week.

The Warriors aren’t just planning for their own late inclusion with Kearney admitting they are preparing for Cowboys superstar Jason Taumalolo to play.

Taumalolo, arguably the best player currently running around in the NRL, has been named on an extended bench after missing the Cowboys 26-16 loss to the Sharks last Saturday with bone bruising to his knee.

‘‘Our expectation is that Jase [Taumalolo] will travel down and play. We’ve prepared for that,’’ Kearney said.