Andrew Johns, Cooper Cronk blast NRL crackdown on tackling kickers

Rugby league legends have been left scratching their heads after the NRL appeared to have gone over the top in continuing a crackdown.

Andrew Johns and Cooper Cronk had some questions. Photo: Fox Sports and Getty Images

The Cronulla Sharks have blown the North Queensland Cowboys off the park in a 44-6 thrashing at PointsBet Stadium.

It was all one-way traffic essentially from the kickoff as the Sharks ran out to a 20-0 lead after 27 minutes.

But eyebrows have been raised over what is seemingly the latest crackdown from the NRL.

While the pressure on general play kickers has long been slowly phased out of the game, it appears as though the death knell has finally been rung.

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At 6-0 after nine minutes, it was clearly not going to be the Cowboys’ night when Coen Hess was penalised for a late tackle on the Sharks’ Nicho Hynes.

Protecting the kickers has been a big topic of late but it would be hard to argue the hit from Hess was late.

Speaking on Fox League, former Storm and Roosters premiership winning halfback Cooper Cronk said that precedent made it almost certain that it was going to be a penalty.

But he disagreed that it deserved to be penalised.

“For me, there’s not much in that at all,” Cronk said. “It’s not late, it’s not high, he’s wrapped his arms around. The only thing is is that Hynes’ legs are off the ground.”

Dan Ginnane said that even though it was in slow-motion, “it still looked like it was in sync”.

Cronk said that the referees were showing zero tolerance for any contact on the kicker.

“They’ve definitely changed their approach, the referees, on protecting the kickers,” he added. “Over the past couple of weekends, there’s been some soft penalties given away.”

Ginnane said referee Gerard Sutton was at least showing consistency in the decision, despite calling it “ferocious” from the referee.

That's about as simultaneous as it gets. Photo: Fox Sports

Cronk said it was an issue that was going to have to be erased from the game.

“Coaches are going to have to change their mentality her for their players because a few years ago you couldn’t push, then they went to you having to wrap your arms. Now you basically can’t even touch them,” Cronk said.

On Nine, Andrew Johns didn’t believe it was a penalty.

“Is this a new rule?” the eighth Immortal asked. “Last week, there was a challenge from Zac Lomax on Luke Keary … That is simultaneous.

“That’s not high, it’s not late.”

Mat Thompson said: “He got him in the air though.”

“I don’t think so,” Johns replied. “I think the left foot was still on the ground of Hynes. That’s pretty much simultaneous. I think that’s a harsh penalty against Coen Hess.”

Former Dragons premiership winner Jamie Soward was fuming however.

“#NRL just make a blanket rule. You can’t tackle the kicker at all. There’s no incentive to put kick pressure on. That’s good old fashioned kick pressure which as a kicker you expect,” he tweeted.

“There’s dangerous contact with kickers when it’s late. That wasn’t late that was good pressure.”

Other fans called it “pretty weak” and “bewildering” as it’s clear kickers can’t be challenged in 2023.

While the Sharks moved to 8-0 with the penalty goal, the side led 20-6 at half-time.

The Sharks led in nearly every facet of the game, holding 55 per cent of possession and making 250m more than the Cowboys in the first 40.

But the visitors hit back in the 33rd minute through Kyle Feldt to go to the sheds on the scoreboard.

The second half continued as the first had gone as the Sharks ran in four more tries to blow the Cowboys off the field.