NRL 2021: Former referee Bill Harrigan’s contentious plan to stop the high tackles

Legendary referee Bill ‘Hollywood’ Harrigan supports the NRL’s crackdown on high shots and has a simple rule for the players to follow.

Former referee Bill Harrigan. Picture: Rob Wright/The Coffs Coast Advocate

It could become known as Hollywood’s nipple rule.

Legendary referee Bill “Hollywood” Harrigan, who controlled a record 10 first grade grand finals, has provocatively called for all tackles to be completed beneath the nipple line of NRL players.

The rule would, according to Harrigan, ensure defenders stay well away from the head of opponents.

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Harrigan, who refereed 393 games between 1986 and 2003, said the NRL should introduce a rule preventing tackles being made above an imaginary line from a players’ arm pit, across both nipples to the other armpit.

Any hit above the nipple line, according to Harrigan, would be penalised or sin-binned.

Former referee Bill Harrigan supports the NRL’s crackdown on high tackles. Picture: Rob Wright/The Coffs Coast Advocate

“I applaud the league for the crackdown because players can’t keep getting hit in the head,” Harrigan said. “There should be a line across the nipples. That is a player’s target area — you can’t go any higher than that.

“From under the arm pits, across the top of the nipples and that’s where you’ve got to hit. You hit above that, it’s a penalty or sin bin. That’s the way the game has to go. You won’t get blokes being whacked in the head, broken noses splattered across faces. It’s an easy fix.

“Players will have to change their tackling style. And they can do it. First man in around the legs, second man in around the nipple line or lower. Take the bloke down.

“I don’t like the way the game has gone with tackling styles. I don’t like the two blokes up top and then a third-man in, pushing him back.

“It’s ‘hit, stick, hold him up, push him back’ … twisting, turning, all they are doing is wrecking the players’ knees, ankles and their joints.

“The poor bastards have 100kg pushing him forward and 300kg pushing him back. Their longevity in the game is going to be shortened.

“There have been more hits in the heads because of this standing-up tackling, ball-and-all, hit high and hold him. It’s not a good look. Every tackle there is pushing back. Knock the bloke down on the ground like we used to.”

NRL management continue to cop flak from fans over their high tackle crackdown, which saw Roosters star Victor Radley suspended this week for five matches. Radley vowed not to alter his tackling technique.

Fans also have increasing fears this year’s State of Origin series could be marred by a series of sin bins which could impact the result.

Clubs are privately concerned that the high tackle focus is allowing referees to miss basic on-field errors including forward passes and play-the-ball infringements.

Victor Radley has vowed not to change his tackling style despite copping a five-match suspension for a high shot on Tevita Pangai Jr. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

Asked about the crackdown, Harrigan said: “I’m all for it. I don’t like seeing players whacked in the head. I know it will be very difficult for the referees, who are already under a hell of a lot of scrutiny. It will be difficult to be insistent on who goes to the sin bin and who doesn’t.

“I liked watching games back in the 1980s, ‘90s and early 2000s, where it was about getting a player to the ground. It was a better game. I love the off-season when they play all the old games (on Fox Sports).

“Just tackle the player and drop him to the ground. That’s all I want to see… get him to the ground as quick as they could, not hold him up, push him backwards and try and slow it all down.

“My young bloke has just returned to footy in the under 17s. I said to him to tackle around the legs. Go back to the old style where you get your head in behind them and tackle the legs. If he offloads the ball, good luck to him. You will chop him down eight times out of 10.”

Originally published as NRL 2021: Former referee Bill Harrigan’s contentious plan to stop the high tackles