Nathan Cleary Wants The NRL To Loosen Up On Their High Tackles Clampdown

Nathan Cleary has urged the NRL to soften their approach when it comes to cracking down on high tackles.

With the number of concussions continuing to rise this season, it's understood the Australian Rugby League Commission sent a message to the referees that action needed to be taken against any player who committed the act of a high or late shot.

And as a result of this clamp down on the rules, the recent Magic Round in Brisbane saw a total of 14 players sin binned with three sent off altogether.

The sudden change in the state of play took everyone by surprise, including Cleary.

Now the Penrith Panthers star has asked for the NRL to loosen up a bit when it comes to enforcing the strict regulations, while insisting that the overall aim of the crackdown is much-needed.

"I think it's gone a little bit too far," Cleary told Fox League.

"It's a contact sport, and some of those things you can't avoid.

"I'm all for getting the high contact out of the game but at the end of the day someone is falling into you, you can't just disappear.

"I think they'll get it right, it was probably just a weekend trying to implement it.

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"But hopefully, we can get it back to normal a little."

As for the NRL themselves, it seems they're not budging on their strong high tackle stance.

"This is an intense, physical game and we're talking about taking the responsible leadership position of eliminating the damage that can be done [by] dangerous head-high shots. I make no apologies for that and I absolutely believe that the decision the commission has made and the way it's being implemented is right," NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said on Nine's The Sunday Footy Show.

"But I'll also say, what do we know about our coaches and our teams? They're professional, they evolve, there's a learning curve. They'll adapt and the teams that adapt quicker than others will have a competitive advantage."

Topics: nrl news, Injury news, nrl, Australia

Max Sherry

Max Sherry is a journalist for SPORTbible Australia. After migrating Down Under from London as a teenager, he instantly fell in love with Aussie sport and its culture. From NRL to AFL, cricket to rugby — you name it, Max watches it (with a beer in hand, of course). During his time at Fox Sports, he worked in the football department covering the Premier League, A-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Born a stone's throw away from West Ham's training ground, Max is obviously a die-hard Liverpool fan.

@maxysherry