Stuart the latest to wrestle with Melbourne’s illegal tackles
CANBERRA coach Ricky Stuart has called on the NRL to be “brave enough” to stamp out illegal wrestling tactics as the Raiders prepare to face Melbourne.
The Storm have been accused this week of not playing “in the spirit of the game” in relation to their tactics at the ruck.
Melbourne introduced wrestling and the dangerous crusher tackle, with prop Nelson Asofa-solomona escaping sanction last week. Stuart slammed the governing body for not standing up to the powerhouse club before their top-four showdown in Melbourne today.
“I don’t agree with the illegal stuff that happens on the ground. There has to be someone brave enough to stand up (to it),” Stuart said.
“It’s not just at the Melbourne Storm, any illegal foul tactic on the ground, I believe there is a responsibly with our people in charge of the game to get rid of it.”
One rule Stuart doesn’t want to see changed is the new stripping laws.
The NRL introduced rules last season that allow players to leave a tackle so their teammate can perform a one-onone strip before the contest is complete.
The Raiders have perfected the art and have 23 one-onone steals this season, more than double the next best, which is Melbourne with 11. The Roosters were Canberra’s latest victims last weekend, which prompted coach Trent Robinson to call for the rules to scrapped.
“It was a ridiculous comment last week about having to eliminate that rule,” Stuart said. “When you can’t do something it doesn’t mean we have to get rid of it.
“Because we do it well, does that mean we’ve got to be punished for it?”