In the wake of Greg Bird's lengthy ban, Wayne Bennett has called on power brokers to find a way to punish representative players without impacting on their NRL clubs.
Bennett's Broncos are without Sam Thaiday for Friday night's clash with Penrith after the inspirational back-rower was banned one match for a crusher tackle in last weekend's trans-Tasman Test.
But Bennett also empathised with NRL arch rivals Gold Coast after their Kangaroos back-rower Bird copped an eight week suspension for a lifting tackle in the same Test.
"He was playing for his country so I guess he'd be a bit confused today," Bennett said of Bird.
Asked if he hoped NRL head of strategy Shane Richardson addressed the issue, Bennett said: "I hope it is, it needs to be."
Bird was suspended until mid-July for his lifting tackle on Kiwi winger Jason Nightingale in the Kangaroos' Test loss on Sunday.
The ban means he will miss the entire State of Origin series.
Bird pleaded guilty to a dangerous throw but went to the judiciary to challenge the grade two grading, which was upheld by the panel.
Bennett said it was "unfair" that clubs copped the brunt of their representative player's punishment.
"The club takes all the risk in this business, sometimes I think there has got to be a better way," Bennett said.
"I see Greg Bird leaving the judiciary last night and (Titans coach) Neil Henry was representing him.
"Neil Henry had nothing to do with that game, he is his club coach.
"But we (NRL clubs) are left with all the responsibility again.
"To me, lots of times it is unfair."
Bennett could see no clear winner with the current system.
"Maybe there is no fairer away, I don't know," he said.
"But we take all the risks, the club. We pay all the money, we contract them, we look after them 24-7 and when they go away to their rep programs at the end of the day we are the ones who pay the price.
"The fans buy their season tickets and the guy is out for eight weeks - everyone is the loser."
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