Sins bins are on the rise in the NRL in 2018 and it could be due to the NRL getting faster.
In recent years we have seen attacking flair from the superstars of the game; the likes of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Billy Slater and James Tedesco but there is another factor- second phase play from the big men.
The increase in offloads in recent seasons has had a rapid effect on the speed of the game with players not only having to make more tackles, but also being put under greater pressure as a result.
If we look at the 2017 stats, teams had an average of 9.78 offloads per game. After just two rounds this season that's now increased to 11.03 per game.
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The increase in offloads and second phase play means the game is being played at a faster speed with players stretching referees' patience trying to do slow down the game.
However, as promised, the officials have launched a crackdown on players trying to slow down the game through the sin bin.
In 2018 there have been seven sin bins in just two rounds of football which means, on average, 3.5 players are getting sin binned each week.
It's a significant increase from recent seasons with 43 players sent to the bin in 2017.
That is more than double that of 2016 with just 17 players sitting down for ten minutes and only 13 in 2015.
It's the frightening stat that makes coaches tear their hair out (well, those that still have it) and fans want to look away.
One gutsy decision that might relieve the pressure temporarily, but a decision which piles on massive pressure for the next 10 minutes and can shape the outcome of a game.
However as we have seen recently, the team who is reduced to 12 men can often have a better 10 minutes than the opposition.
For instance, last weekend the Dragons lost winger Jason Nightingale to the sin bin but managed to outscore the Sharks 4-2 in the 10 minutes Nightingale sat in the bin.
While there's no guarantee the trend will continue with players hopefully learning their lesson, there is no doubt referees have enforced a crackdown on players trying to kill a team's momentum.
As fans how should we feel?
Well unless you're the team that is down to 12 men, you should be excited by the opportunity to see attacking footy at its best; at a fast pace.
