Players don't need to change tackling technique: Sterling

Rugby league great Peter Sterling is confident players won't need to change their tackling style despite the NRL's crackdown on high shots.

Ever since the NRL clamped down on dangerous and high tackles beginning in Magic Round last month, in which 14 players were sin-binned and three sent off across the eight-game fixture, much has been made on whether players need to change up their technique.

While the likes of stars Victor Radley (five weeks) and Josh Papalii (three weeks) have felt the full force of the NRL's crackdown with lengthy suspension, Sterling believes their technique is suitable to continue on with.

Sterling made particular mention of Radley while urging players to aim for the "nipple" in a bid to change just the target area and not their tackling techniques.

"There are still some guys that need to be more careful…. you've got to think 'nipple'," he told Wide World of Sports' Sterlo's wrap.

"If you're going any higher, you're going into dangerous territories.

"Victor Radley copped a bit of bad press coming out of his hearing, saying 'I don't have to change my tackling style'.

"Victor doesn't have to change his tackling style. He's got to change his target area.

"The great defenders do what Victor does, they get down and they drive up. Victory's tackling style is not a problem, he's got to lower his tackling area."

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