MARK ‘SPUDD’ CARROLL: I agree with Wayne Bennett, it’s time to turf the NRL bunker

If I want to see a game of football where the action is halted every 10 seconds and I’m left bored s...less, I’ll switch the channel to rugby union.

My frustration is all because of the friggin’ NRL Bunker, which every rugby league fan I meet hates with a passion.

Do we really need to stop the game for minutes at a time to put every slightly contentious decision under a microscope?

The time it takes to complete a game does my head in.

I find myself reaching for my guitar or the phone to ease the boredom as Mr Bunker goes through his nit-picking routine.

Do we want to be like the bloody NFL where matches stretch well beyond two hours?

I don’t think so.

The bunker should get involved if it’s to confirm a try or rule on an act of foul play, otherwise keep your nose out of it.

It’s not like you’re getting it right all the time, anyway.

Pressure, momentum, speed of the game are all compromised when big brother gets involved.

There is no natural rhythm or attrition or fatigue.

Wayne Bennett has watched more games of rugby league than anyone reading this.

He echoed my thoughts exactly after his South Sydney side was bundled out by the Newcastle Knights on Friday night.

“I want to know who’s refereeing the game. Is it the Bunker or is it the referee?” the master coach asked.

“It’s not what the game needs. I don’t think the bunker enhances our game to the amount of what we believe it does.

“I’m happy to live with the referee’s call. Always have been. Always will be.

“The quicker they get rid of the bunker, the happier I’ll be.”

Amen to that.

But I don’t like throwing up problems with no solutions, so this is what I am proposing.

Increase the captain’s challenge from one per match for each side to two while reducing the number of areas the bunker can rule on.

Yes, an extra CC would mean the game potentially stopping four times instead of two, but that’s offset by the bunker butting out of other aspects of the game.

Surely that’s better than the dog’s breakfast we’ve got now.

And don’t get me started

Pathetic.

That’s the word that comes to mind when I think of the poor turnout by Cronulla fans to Saturday night’s semifinal against North Queensland.

The NRL lowered ticket costs, put on free buses and even offered half-priced hot chips to entice Sharks supporters to make the 30-45 minute journey to Allianz Stadium.

They did everything but have Peter V’landys chauffeur them to Moore Park.

Yet only 17,000 passed through the gates.

What’s wrong with you all?

This was a must-win game for your side, being played at a state-of-the-art stadium just up the road from your beloved Shire on a perfect spring night.

And you sat on your arses at home — either because you couldn’t be bothered or because of some sort of petty protest aimed at the NRL for taking the game away from your Third World home ground.

As I said above — pathetic!

Think back to the night before when a convoy of buses and cars made it down the M1 from Newcastle to cheer on the Knights against South Sydney.

They are genuine fans who make sacrifices to get behind their team no matter where they’re playing.

One way to end the home final controversy is just put all big finals games at major venues and scrap the suburban grounds for good.

Cronulla fans — if you can find one — please give it to me all you like but I’d rather you try to leave egg on my face by flocking to Allianz in big numbers against the Roosters this Saturday.

Before I go

As soon as Cody Walker went down with a calf injury on Friday night, my mind turned to my last game of rugby league.

It was playing for Russell Crowe’s Orara Valley Axemen at 37.

I was doing a hit up and stepped off the right foot when I heard a pop.

It felt like a sniper had shot me in the calf.

As I limped around the paddock, this local who looked about 80 shouts out: “Hey Spudd, that’s why they call it the old man’s injury.”

I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

I tell the story because Walker will be the same age I was then when the 2027 season begins.

As it stands, he does not have a contract for next year.

We’d all love to play until we’re 100 but Father Time remains unbeaten for a reason.

Cody is a brilliant player and critical to this Rabbitohs side, but his body is understandably showing growing signs of wear and tear.

If he goes around again, the Bunnies are taking the risk it might go the same way it did for his old teammate Adam Reynolds at Brisbane this year.