Cut out the Hollywoods! - Kemp

New Zealand Warriors coach Tony Kemp says he is fed up with players in the NRL staying down after being tackled in the hope of winning a penalty.

Kemp said the practice had become widespread throughout the competition, but seemed to be pointing the finger at St George Illawarra skipper Trent Barrett following Saturday night's 32-18 win to the Dragons at WIN Stadium.

Barrett was on the receiving end of a high shot from Warriors lock Sione Faumuina, which earned the Dragons a penalty and saw the Kiwi test forward placed on report by referee Steve Clark.

While Barrett did remain on the ground to receive some attention from the trainer, it appeared there was little hesitation in Clark's decision to award the penalty.

But Kemp said players who stayed on the ground to allow the video referee time to make a call on the play weren't playing the game in the right spirit.

"It's a trend at the moment that blokes are lying on the ground trying to milk a penalty, that's the disappointing thing about it," Kemp said.

"My blokes are tough kids, they get belted and they get straight back up and want to play.

"When you get blokes lying down milking penalties because they get a fair shot put on them, that's disappointing.

"I'm not just saying tonight, I just think throughout the NRL we've got blokes milking penalties and trainers are running on telling blokes to stay on the ground and referees are giving penalties.

"That's not in the best nature of the game. This is a tough sport. I hope it's a trend that isn't going to continue for the rest of the year."

Barrett said the Dragons did not try milk penalties in that way and he only stayed down for a short period because he was stunned by the hit, which did appear to collect the NSW pivot across the jaw.

"We don't lay down," Barrett said.

Dragons coach Nathan Brown backed his skipper, but admitted that NRL players lying on the ground to try and gain a penalty was a concern.

"I think what Tony's saying is a game thing that all coaches worry about," Brown said.

"As far as the (Faumuina) tackle was, we're happy with the penalty. It probably deserved a penalty and that's it."