“I’m not saying there will be a raft of that happening across the weekend,but it is ultimately in the hands of the players. If the players don’t push the envelope,there will be no need for the referees to react.”

Earlier in the week,Annesley said the interactions with Badger were “not a gender issue”,instead imploring players to show a greater level of respect generally towards match officials.

The Tigers had three decisions overturned via captain’s challenges,while Aidan Sezer was not sent to the sin bin for a tackle on Josh Curran that drew a grade-three dangerous contact charge from the match review panel and a four-game ban.

Jared Maxwell,the NRL’s general manager of elite officiating,is expected to contact clubs on Wednesday to remind players of their obligations.

“The referees have to set the boundaries of acceptable behaviour,and they will be supported 100 per cent by the NRL if they set that line in the sand and they ensure those standards are upheld,” Annesley said.

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