How do sin bins and send-offs work?

Temporary suspension (sin bin)

• You leave the field and stay in the sin bin area allocated by the home team until the suspension ends.
• The suspension is 10 minutes of playing time. It starts when the referee signals time-on or play recommences, and pauses if the referee signals time-off.
• It does not include the half-time break. It stops at the end of the first half and resumes at the start of the second half. If play continues after the siren, that time counts towards your suspension until the referee blows time on the half.
• If more than one player is suspended from the same incident, the suspensions are equal and those players return together.
• You re-enter from an onside position after reporting to the interchange official and touch judge.

Permanent dismissal (send-off)

• You must go straight to your team's dressing room and stay there until you have changed out of your playing uniform.
• You cannot return to the players' bench unless it is outside the area bounded by the fence around the playing area.
• The referee lodges an On-Field Incident Report for the dismissed player with the QRL Ground Manager after the match.

Source: 2026 Statewide Competitions Operations Manual, section 9.