Bring back the punch: Legend’s ‘barbaric’ plan to end NRL niggle
League legend Gorden Tallis says the NRL should consider scaling back the crackdown on punching in an effort to eradicate “niggling” from the game.
The governing body came down hard on players throwing punches after Paul Gallen’s infamous 2013 State of Origin stoush with Queensland’s Nate Myles.
The NRL gave referees power and permission to send a player off for throwing a punch. Melbourne’s Curtis Scott was marched from the field for putting one on Dylan Walker’s chin last year.
But with the eradication of punching has come a new blight on the game.
Many commentators now believe players are getting away with niggling tactics more often because opponents are much less likely to retaliate with a swinging fist.
And Tallis believes coaches are playing their part by training teams to rile up opponents as much as possible.
“Back when I played there was always one bloke on each side who would push the rules. There was Terry Lamb who would always be offside and give you a little cheap shot, Alf (Langer) was always offside and be into the referees,” Tallis told Triple M on Sunday.
“Now everybody is doing it, to the point a winger will run in to push a front-rower in the face. It’s actually embarrassing, and they are coached to do it now.
“The referees are under so much pressure ... now all 17 (players) are trained to break the rules on every single play, whether it’s holding down a tackle.”
On Friday night at Suncorp Stadium, Broncos player Jake Turpin hit an opponent with a swinging arm and it almost started a punch-up with the Panthers.
Tallis believes if players feared copping a punch after a foul act, there would be less of them in the game.
“I know this sounds a bit barbaric, (but) I’d bring back the punch,” Tallis said.
“It would stop it all. I reckon about 10 occasions on Friday night when I was calling Broncos-Penrith they would run in, every tackle.
“If you pick on someone ... if you’re niggling and being that pest, you got sorted out.”
Have your say feathered friends........
League legend Gorden Tallis says the NRL should consider scaling back the crackdown on punching in an effort to eradicate “niggling” from the game.
The governing body came down hard on players throwing punches after Paul Gallen’s infamous 2013 State of Origin stoush with Queensland’s Nate Myles.
The NRL gave referees power and permission to send a player off for throwing a punch. Melbourne’s Curtis Scott was marched from the field for putting one on Dylan Walker’s chin last year.
But with the eradication of punching has come a new blight on the game.
Many commentators now believe players are getting away with niggling tactics more often because opponents are much less likely to retaliate with a swinging fist.
And Tallis believes coaches are playing their part by training teams to rile up opponents as much as possible.
“Back when I played there was always one bloke on each side who would push the rules. There was Terry Lamb who would always be offside and give you a little cheap shot, Alf (Langer) was always offside and be into the referees,” Tallis told Triple M on Sunday.
“Now everybody is doing it, to the point a winger will run in to push a front-rower in the face. It’s actually embarrassing, and they are coached to do it now.
“The referees are under so much pressure ... now all 17 (players) are trained to break the rules on every single play, whether it’s holding down a tackle.”
On Friday night at Suncorp Stadium, Broncos player Jake Turpin hit an opponent with a swinging arm and it almost started a punch-up with the Panthers.
Tallis believes if players feared copping a punch after a foul act, there would be less of them in the game.
“I know this sounds a bit barbaric, (but) I’d bring back the punch,” Tallis said.
“It would stop it all. I reckon about 10 occasions on Friday night when I was calling Broncos-Penrith they would run in, every tackle.
“If you pick on someone ... if you’re niggling and being that pest, you got sorted out.”
Have your say feathered friends........
