NRL high tackle crackdown: Rabbitohs report revealed ugly tactics

The NRL came under fire for the high-shot crackdown last week. Now, a Rabbitohs report has emerged which vindicates the decision to get tough.

The NRL has cracked down on contact with the head. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

It is the secret $20,000 report, compiled by Wayne Bennett’s South Sydney club, which put the NRL on notice over head-trauma injuries in rugby league.

As ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys vowed to continue his crackdown on high shots, The Sunday Mail has obtained a club document in which the Rabbitohs warned the NRL of an increase in foul play almost 18 months ago.

V’landys has come under fire for his hard line stance on sin-binning players for high tackles but a three-month research project undertaken by Bennett’s Rabbitohs has vindicated the ARL Commission chairman.

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Former South Sydney boss Shane Richardson said the increase in high shots had become “ridiculous”.

Commissioned by former Souths boss Shane Richardson, the 23-page report was compiled by Scott Barker and Rabbitohs operations chief Brock Schaefer and features a collection of alarming footage of dangerous attacks to the head.

The report was handed to NRL head of football Graham Annesley in January 2020.

Part of the research also focused on the increase in wrestling in the game, with the report including disturbing revelations from a leading Jiu-Jitsu website promoting a ‘Control the Head’ technique which could help NRL clubs.

Bennett last week launched a passionate defence of V’landys’ foul-play crackdown and Richardson said South Sydney had led the way in player protection.

“We compiled the report because we felt the attacking of the head and neck was becoming ridiculous,” he said.

“We weren’t picking on one club. Melbourne get a bit touchy about wrestling but we used a range of clips from all clubs, including our own players at South Sydney.

South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett defended the NRL’s crackdown on contact with the head. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty Images

“We felt at the time the NRL match officials weren’t taking enough notice of it and so we wanted to alert the NRL to it.

“We put a lot of time and money into making sure the report could address the issue.

“That’s why we kept it quiet at the time, we wanted to go to the NRL and go through the right channels to make sure action was taken.

“The report showed there was an increase in contact to the head and there was a greater incidence of crusher tackles.

“I think the risk of legal action (in relation to post-career brain damage from high shots) is a real concern.

“You have to be proactive as a game and they need to show they are doing something to address this issue.

“I am supportive of Peter V’landys’ stance, the reality is times have changed and the game has to change.”

In the Souths report, one Jiu-Jitsu website encourages NRL clubs to master the Control the Head technique.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys says he won’t back down in his pledge to make the game safer.

“This is a fundamental concept which will help with the foundations of your game,” the website says.

“As the head is the centre of a person’s physical awareness because it contains the brain … it is very easy to distract and upset the rhythm of an opponent by interfering with their head.”

V’landys is equally concerned with high tackles triggering concussion episodes and says he won’t back down in his promise to make the NRL safer.

“I could be a gutless wonder and sit back and let this all go,” he said.

“It would be easy for me to say I don‘t need to have this fight. But as chairman of the ARL Commission, I wouldn’t be doing my duty if I didn’t look at ways to help our players.

“I want to protect the player from themselves. One player said to me recently you need to protect us because I have two young kids and I want a healthy life after football with them.

“As chairman, I can’t sit back and watch these guys hurt themselves for life, that’s not me, I don’t get enjoyment out of that.

“Like any other football fan, I don‘t want to see a stack of guys going to the sin bin or being sent off, but if you don’t take drastic action you won’t see a change.

“I hope the players get the message.”

Originally published as NRL high tackle crackdown: Rabbitohs report revealed ugly tactics