Amid growing calls for a crackdown on late hits, NRL referees boss Tony Archer has vowed to be vigilant in protecting playmakers.
But Archer believes whistleblowers have been consistent in policing late hits this season despite North Queensland half Johnathan Thurston’s recent plea for more protection.
Brisbane halfback Ben Hunt on Tuesday joined the chorus for a crackdown, saying the league had to “clean up” late hits.
However, Archer revealed it was already a high priority.
“Understand this, we have been very vigilant in this area,” he said on the NRL website.
“It is an area that we need to continue to be vigilant on and we will be.”
Hunt said halves accepted that they would cop some tough treatment when they took the ball to the defensive line but felt late hits needed to be addressed.
“Us halves get taught to play right near the line and, when you do that, you have to accept that you are going to get hit a bit,” he said.
“But it’s those ones – where you pass the ball a bit early or a player comes in and cleans you up late – is something they really have to clean up, I believe.”
North Queensland coach Paul Green issued a “please explain” to the NRL after his Test playmaker Thurston complained publicly about treatment he copped after kicks in the Cowboys’ loss last week to South Sydney.
And Gold Coast coach Neil Henry backed Green’s call for more protection for playmakers after his halfback Aidan Sezer suffered a shoulder injury on Sunday following a hit by Canterbury giant Sam Kasiano.
Hunt’s Broncos teammate Corey Parker did not back Brad Fittler’s call that the likes of Thurston were fair game when they took the ball to the line but did believe there was a place for pressuring playmakers.
“If you are attacking the kicker’s legs while he is kicking, that’s a no-go,” Parker told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast.
“But if you are hitting him as he is kicking, and if it’s above the hips … I am okay with that.
“You want to be able to put pressure on kickers.
“If he (Thurston) sees a big Tom or George Burgess coming at you … you are probably not going to kick it where you want to – you are going to second guess.”
Archer tried to clear up what constituted late contact on a kicker.
“In relation to contact on a kicker, the defender has to make a genuine attempt to tackle,” he said.
“The tackle can’t be late, high or dangerous.
“The referees have penalised this consistently throughout the season and, for the most serious, players have been suspended for that sort of contact on kickers.”
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