Punishment doesn't fit crime if offences hurt showpiece

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak of the Panthers. Photo / Getty Images

Dallin Watene-Zelzniak's absence from Friday night's Anzac test is completely unnecessary.

The Penrith winger was scratched yesterday, after the Kiwis management, in consultation with his club, decided not to take on the NRL judiciary.

Watene-Zelzniak had been charged with a grade one dangerous throw from last Sunday's clash with Cronulla and his early guilty plea means an automatic one-week ban.

So he misses the international show-piece match of the year but will be available when the Panthers take on the Broncos next week. Something is wrong with the NRL's priorities.

On this occasion St George winger Jason Nightingale is a handy replacement for the Kiwis but the rule is still a nonsense. Just like last year with Issac Luke before the Four Nations, the punishment is a lot bigger than the crime. Maybe in New Zealand it seems unjust, as we are tired of losing players before important games, as has occurred so often in the past two decades.

But imagine if it happened in any other sport; Spain losing footballer Diego Costa before an important match against England, because of a foul he committed playing for Chelsea? I don't think so.

The NRL needs a new system. Why do all offences committed in club matches need to apply to the international window, especially when there have been so many dubious rulings applied by the Australian judiciary over the years.

It feels wrong, mainly because there are so few test matches in league. They are special occasions and need to be graced by the best of the best. Watene-Zelzniak is not blameless here - it wasn't the best decision against the Sharks - but he is hardly a serial offender or a dirty player.

The system doesn't need to be so black and white.

Sure, if a player is rubbed out for 12 matches he shouldn't pop up on the field the next week. But all lower grade offences should be served at club level.