RESPECTIVE Saints and Warrington coaches Paul Wellens and Sam Burgess both had their say on the yellow cards handed out to their players in yesterday’s Super League Round 25 game.

Wire forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon and Matty Lees were both sin-binned in the first half after long stoppages in play – with incidents referred to the video referee.

Warrington’s Josh Thewlis was also given a yellow card on the hooter for a professional foul.

Packman Fitzgibbon was carded for a challenge that saw Saints wing Tee Ritson need on-field treatment and assessment during a lengthy stoppage.

Lees saw yellow for what was deemed off the ball tackle on Wire scrum half Josh Drinkwater - with the latter staying down for a prolonged period in back play.

Burgess said: "I don’t know what we are doing. The game stopped for five and a half minutes for the first card (For Lachlan Fitzgibbon).

“But then the player gives the thumbs up and plays on.

“If you have to stop for five and a half minutes, do we not have concussion protocol? That would stop players staying down.

"If you stay down for a period of time, it is a category one in the NRL. There would be less wingers and outside backs staying down if they know it is a category one."

Burgess said it was 'clear to see play acting' was creeping in and said if players knew staying down would see them unable to play the following week due to protocols, it would stamp the problem out.

He added: "I don’t want to go down this rabbit hole. But this is a tough game and I am not questioning that and everyone who is on the field had got an element of toughness about them.

"But they are playing within the rules, we all see them. Players are understanding that there are loopholes.

"I think if staying down for a certain period of time meant category one. It would be pretty simple.

“We had this in the NRL and it stopped this pretty quick. Category one means out for 11 days. You watch how quickly they stop staying down because everyone wants to play next week.

"It is a quick fix. Unless you are out cold which you very rarely see these days because the game has never been safer.

“The game has never been safe for recovery protocols, concussion protocols, player safety, players looking after each other, it has never been safer.

“The amount of time off they need, sports science, the game has never been safer.

“Let’s put it if you are down for a certain period of time, category one, see you later. You have to stand down.

“I can’t help but be honest about the game I care about so much, I feel it will change pretty quick if we can take those steps."

Wellens was asked how concerned he was that there may be follow up action on Lees by Monday’s Match Review Panel, given a card was issued.

“I am sat here now and not overly worried,” said the Saints boss.

“It is a penalty at best. If I have to accept a yellow card, then yes – but if blokes are being stood down and missing games for that I would be gobsmacked.

“It is a fine balance. They get a gut sin-binned early on, and then Matty Lees puts on inside pressure (for that Drinkwater incident).

“If their player had not been sin-binned previously then I don’t think Matty Lees gets sin-binned.

“It is almost a tit-for-tat but I don’t think it warranted a yellow card, but that is the nature of the game.

“We accept it and move on.”