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Brad Fittler Says James Tedesco Needs To Fix His Running Style

Brad Fittler Says James Tedesco Needs To Fix His Running Style

The New South Wales coach reckons a slight adjustment in technique could help Tedesco avoid high tackles from rival players.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

With talks increasing by the day regarding high tackles and head knocks in rugby league, Brad Fittler has now urged James Tedesco to fix his running style for the sake of "his own wellbeing".

Last weekend's Magic Round saw the NRL clamp down on reckless tackles in a bid to lower the number of players suffering concussions during games.

James Tedesco.
PA

This crackdown from the referees saw a whopping 14 players sin-binned and three sent off in a weekend that truly highlighted the issue within the sport.

Many rugby league fans and experts alike have come out and praised the NRL following this move, including New South Wales head coach Fittler.

"We need to keep going down the path of let's make it a thuggery-free sport," Fittler told Channel Nine.

"15 years ago when specific tackles were coming into the game, if we identified them then like everyone watching the game, we wouldn't have this problem at the moment.

"It's not just high tackles, it's other parts of the game like hip drops. If we spot them coming into the game, we should come down heavily."

One player who could benefit from the tightening of rules is James Tedesco.

James Tedesco is tackled during the State of Origin series between NSW and Queensland.
PA

The Sydney Roosters fullback has copped his fair share of high tackles throughout his career - and this season has been no different.

But while he's undoubtedly proven himself to be one of the greatest players of this generation, Fittler reckons Tedesco can still make a slight adjustment in his running technique that will help him avoid lazy, high tackles from rival players.

"James Tedesco is a great example - his running style, he most probably needs to fix that himself because he's been on the end of three high tackles over that," he said.

Brad Fittler.
PA

"That's something he has to look at it.

"I'm not [worried about how he runs], but for his own wellbeing he needs to check out why he's dropping as he does."

Despite Tom Trbojevic producing one of the best individual starts to an NRL season we've seen in a long time, Tedesco is still the bookies' favourite to don the No.1 jumper in Fittler's New South Wales side.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Concussion in sport, Rugby League, nrl, Australia