Should rugby league introduce the 20-minute red card rule from union?

Is it time for rugby league to take a leaf out of rugby union's book for a change?

Rugby union is maligned at times for it’s governance and confusing law interpretations, but the 20-minute red card that Super Rugby implemented and is now being adopted by World Rugby is a great compromise between punishment for the offending team and keeping the game competitive following a sending off.

Wednesday night in State of Origin I, Joseph Sua'ali'i was sent with 8 minutes on the clock and Queensland eventually ran out 38-10 winners.

The game as a competitive spectacle was essentially over at that point and to paraphrase Obi-Wan Kenobi, I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and their TVs were suddenly silenced and all went to bed early.

If the NRL had the 20 minute red card in place, the Blues would’ve been back to full strength with the score at 18-6 and the networks, the advertisers and the fans would’ve still had a competitive match.

New South Wales would have a reduced bench, and maybe you tweak the law to allow the Queenslanders to activate their 18th man to make up for losing a player to foul play for the match.

In a world of commercial realities, I don’t see a loser here by going down this route. But currently, if you’re the likes of Harvey Norman, Toyota or Sky TV, then you’re all losing with thousands switching off before they see your message - one that has cost you thousands of dollars.