Johnson criticises rugby for ‘hitting too hard’

Sydney: Kiwis halfback Shaun Johnson has seemingly criticised rugby for sending players off for “hitting too hard” and expressed his bewilderment at rugby league not being more of a global game.

The Cronulla Sharks star was tweeting during Wednesday’s State of Origin decider, won 20-14 by Queensland in Brisbane, and said he never enjoyed playing rugby like he did league.

The 30-year-old has played in the NRL for the Warriors and Cronulla since 2011 and represented New Zealand in league since 2012.

First, Johnson, who is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury suffered in September, said he wondered how league wasn’t a global sport.

Rugby has always had more global appeal than its rival code but neither could truly be considered global compared to sports such as football, cricket and basketball.

“Sitting on my couch watching this game wondering how this isn’t a global sport,” he tweeted.

In the same tweet, Johnson then appeared to refer to rugby when he said: “Am I being biased when I don’t see how a sport that has players sent off for hitting too hard is.”

Earlier this month, two red cards in the fourth Bledisloe Cup test between the All Blacks and Australia sparked a huge debate about rugby’s laws on high tackles.

World Rugby’s crackdown on dangerous tackles in recent years has led to more red cards in test rugby but it’s driven by player welfare and concussion concerns.

All Blacks prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Wallabies loose-forward Lachlan Swinton were both sent off for high tackles in the first half of the Brisbane test, won 24-22 by Australia, after making contact with the heads of Tom Wright and Sam Whitelock respectively.

The incidents dominated the post-match chat. All Blacks greats Sir John Kirwan and Christian Cullen called for red cards to be scrapped in rugby and replaced by a report system, similar to the rules in league.

“I don’t think we should have red cards in rugby. I think we should have a yellow card and on report and you suffer later,” Kirwan said on Sky Sport.

“I’m with JK. I don’t agree with red cards at all. Ten minutes off, put it on report, someone else can come in. It just ruins the game, seriously,” fellow former All Black Cullen said.

Former Wallabies Phil Kearns and Tim Horan agreed but that prompted former Ireland loose forward Alan Quinlan to blast their views.

“I just think it’s a disgrace, and I’m really sick of these type of tackles and people making excuses, saying it’s going to ruin the game. What’s going to ruin the game is someone getting seriously injures,” Quinlan said.