THE greatest game of all is becoming the grubbiest game of all thanks to the sweeping edict that was designed to clean up rugby league’s ugly side.
That’s the view of NSW hard man Greg Bird, who says the new ‘one-punch and you’re off’ rule is “embarrassing” for rugby league and has left players increasingly frustrated.
NSW players say the ban on punching has led to ongoing grubby, niggling tactics, which could look worse than an occasional punch.
State of Origin II was littered with meek incidents where pumped-up players charged in — but couldn’t throw a punch. Asked had the ‘one-punch’ rule actually made the game grubbier, Bird said: “Definitely.
“There are no repercussions if someone does a face rake or a cheap elbow, something small like twisting the arm.
“Any player can do it. You have halfbacks slapping back-rowers in the face.
“I asked Andrew Johns after the game — and I was standing there with Gorden Tallis — and asked if he would have slapped Tallis in the face back in his day and he said ‘not a chance because he’d bash me’.
“But I would do it now because he wouldn’t be able to do anything.
“It’s people trying to get you off your game.”
The NRL introduced the ‘one-punch’ edict after a well-publicised punch-up between NSW skipper Paul Gallen and Queensland’s Nate Myles during last year’s Origin series.
Gallen though has stated publicly he hates the look of players rushing in and grabbing jumpers.
NRL management wanted a cleaner image — but players feel differently.
NSW players have not forgotten Johnathan Thurston’s sly elbow to Josh Reynolds’ face late in Origin II at ANZ Stadium.
“I have heard ‘Gal’ talk about it before and I am with him,” NSW and Sydney Roosters backrower Boyd Cordner said this week.
“I think it is embarrassing for the game, just coming in pushing and shoving. It looks stupid.
“I don’t think it’s a good look. I think players do it because they know they aren’t going to get hit in the head or get punched.
“It would probably be better if they came in and started throwing them. But you can’t anymore because you get weeks on the sideline.”
Cordner agreed that pushing and shoving only increased on-field tension.
“It’s a contact sport so there’s going to be some tempers that boil over,” he said. “Sometimes it would be better to just get it over and done with and out of the way.
“In saying that, it’s not a good look for the game so we have to protect that side of things.”
Origin III in Brisbane next Wednesday night could well spill over, given it is a dead rubber.
One former rugby league star said: “All this pushing and shoving ... it’s like AFL or soccer.
“Let the players sort it out. The grubby tactics looks worse on TV than the odd fight.”
