NRL world loses the plot over Bulldogs vs Rabbitohs high shots

The NRL’s supposed “crackdown” on high shots appears a thing of the past, leaving fans and experts baffled on Good Friday.

The NRL “crackdown” on high shots appears to officially be dead and buried.

After a number of high shots were perceived as escaping necessary punishment in the early rounds of the 2025 season, the NRL issued a direct warning to clubs that anyone committing the tackling act would be punished.

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It led to a sudden glut of sin bins for any shot above the shoulders, but those moves have seemingly been shelved, judging by the number of head high tackles in the Bulldogs’ 32-0 belting of South Sydney at Accor Stadium.

In front of a sensational 65,305-strong crowd at the ground, which breaks a regular season record from way back in 2013, the high shots were the talk of the NRL world.

Viliame Kikau's high shot only ended up on report. Photo: Fox Sports

Dogs second-rower Viliame Kikau was involved in a number of the contentious incidents, firstly for his swinging arm on Souths winger Campbell Graham that immediately drew blood.

Kikau was placed on report, but managed to stay on the ground.

Just a few minutes later, Rabbitoh Davvy Moale’s attempted shoulder charge caught Kikau high as he was falling in a tackle, with the Bunny also reported but not subjected to any further punishment.

Adding a little comedy to the situation, the Dogs’ Marcelo Montoya was sent to the bin for a slap in the final 10 minutes of the one-sided clash.

“The thing I’m finding really perplexing at halftime, given what we’ve seen in the opening five or six rounds of the competition, is the ‘moderate force’,” Bulldogs great Michael Ennis said on Fox League.

“We’ve just seen Viliame Kikau whack Campbell Graham in the head and get put on report.

The Bulldogs star then copped his own high shot. Photo: Fox Sports

“And it’s not just on the Bulldogs’ side, Davvy Moale then hits Viliame Kikau with absolutely moderate force.

“We’ve just seen sin bins. I’m fine with it, but we’re just looking for consistency.

“Davvy Moale here with the shoulder, he just hits Viliame Kikau in the head and they’re both on report.

“Very interesting to see the rulings this afternoon in this opening 40 minutes, given what we’ve seen throughout the season.”

While the high shots appeared to be evenly split, the action was anything but, with the Bulldogs racing to a 20-0 halftime lead in front of a raucous home crowd.

The Bulldogs’ fans were out in full force. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

But fans on social media were siding with Ennis when trying to determine the rulings from referee Grant Atkins and Bunker official Ashley Klein.

Former journalist Jim Hanna wrote on X: “Atkins finding every reason to keep the ball from Souths … Kikau staying on the field after the high shot was ridiculous.”

Reporter Paul Kneeshaw tweeted: “Interesting sin bin calls this weekend if Kikau non bin is the standard.”

An account called EastsToWin asked: “How wasn’t Kikau sent to the bin?”

NRL reporter Lachlan Jeffery declared: “Davvy Moale a little lucky not to go to the bin. Clear cut shoulder charge. Maybe saved by Kikau falling.”

Max King (right) celebrated a drought breaking try for the Doggies. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Footy fan Dwayne Nicholls added simply: “RIP “The Crackdown” Round 4, 2025 – Round 7, 2025.”

Steve Merrill said: “So the head shot crackdown lasted one week. Kikau hits Campbell Graham high, worth a penalty and placed on report but not put in the bin. Absolute joke.”

Jordan Patu offered: “That Kikau tackle was worse than the overwhelming majority of tackles we’ve seen deemed worthy of a sin binning. Ash Klein in the bunker, at the scene of the crime again.”

An account called Eels Guru wrote: “Swinging punch to the face split him, Ash Klein in the bunker. Only on report. Hahah how pathetic.”

Whichever team they were supporting, most of those watching on were left bewildered by the apparent shift in approach from the NRL head office.

Originally published as NRL world loses the plot over Bulldogs vs Rabbitohs high shots