Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary has handed the NRL a reality check over their touted crackdown on foul play that saw an unprecedented number of players punished by officials. <\/p>\n
In a response aimed at the worrying rise in players suffering concussion after head knocks, the ARLC issued a directive to referees this week to come down hard on any contact with the head or neck.\n<\/p>\n
NRL boss Peter V'landys promised the crackdown would spectacularly kick-off at Magic Round, and true to form, the league's lawmaker kept his word.<\/p>\n
In all, 14 players were sin binned and three were sent off, in a wild round of footy in Brisbane, as players and fans alike were left scratching their heads over the new state of play. <\/p>\n
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Speaking at the closure of the weekend's action, Cleary offered perhaps the most direct assessment by a player as he prodded the NRL to soften their approach or risk losing the essence of the game. <\/p>\n
"I think it's gone a little bit too far," Cleary told Fox Sports. <\/p>\n
"It's a contact sport, and some of those things you can't avoid.<\/p>\n
"I'm all for getting the high contact out of the game but at the end of the day someone is falling into you, you can't just disappear.<\/p>\n
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"I think they'll get it right, it was probably just a weekend trying to implement it.<\/p>\n
"But hopefully, we can get it back to normal a little."<\/p>\n
The 23-year-old's take echoes a slew of pundits around the game who were less than impressed with the league's new sensitivity around big hits. <\/p>\n
"Head-high tackles? A slap in the face and you're gone to the sin-bin, seriously," NRL legend Johnathan Thurston said on the opening night of Magic Round. <\/p>\n
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"It's just taken away from what the game has been built on, toughness.<\/p>\n
"I understand swinging arms and a duty of care, but some of them were just ridiculous.<\/p>\n
"Obviously, there's going to be teething problems, but please, c'mon, this is rugby league."<\/p>\n