As the rugby league world has gone up in arms over the long weekend due to the rising penalty count, Storm fullback Billy Slater is open to a more level-headed approach.
After a record 33 penalties were blown in Friday night’s game between the Storm and the Sharks, there was a significant level of frustration voiced by fans and the media alike after the game.
However as was the rhetoric by Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy and captain Cameron Smith, the onus is on the players to adjust.
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With stricter eyes on off-sides and play-the-balls than in previous years, Slater said he would certainly be up for an open dialogue between players and referees.
Having referees down to adjudicate training sessions throughout the year would be a beneficial way to help with players adjust to the different approach from officials.
“We are very open for all of that and we have had referees come down in the past,” Slater said.
“Where the interpretation is at for the moment I think it would be good for referees to get out to not only us but all NRL Clubs.
“We need to work on our discipline, we are giving far too many penalties away. The interpretation has changed this year and we are probably still stuck in 2017 – we need to catch up.”
Storm will travel across the ditch this Saturday to take on Wests Tigers in the Auckland Double Header.
