RUGBY league’s “Raging Bull” Gorden Tallis has predicted the demise of the shoulder charge in the NRL after a decision by the Queensland Juniors to ban the tactic.
The former Australia forward said league risked becoming like rugby union if the game became too sanitised in defence but he applauded junior officials for doing everything in their power to make the game safer.
"I’ve got kids and you want to see them protected," Tallis said.
"But the shoulder charge doesn’t worry grown men. I think it would be sad to take away a tactic which has become the trademark of one of the game’s superstars, Sonny Bill Williams. It all adds to the theatre of the game.
"But 12 years from now it probably will be gone from the NRL because kids will have it ingrained in them not to do it."
The shoulder charge has been banned nationally up to under-15 level for several years but the Queensland Juniors have now banned it up to under-18s.
"Players, parents and supporters need to know that what they see on TV is now punishable at our level with a penalty or dismissal from the field," said Brisbane Juniors chairman Rex Klein.
* All three Queensland NRL clubs will send players to the annual Rookies Camp in Sydney on Sunday.
The players are Denan Kemp, Troyden Watene, Andrew McCullough and Gerard Beale (Broncos); Jordan Atkins, Joel Rapana and Siosaia Vave (Titans); and Daniel Backo, Anthony Watts, John Frith and Dayne Weston (Cowboys).
* Gold Coast Titans Chris Walker (achilles) and Michael Henderson (ankle) hit the running track for the first time on Thursday in their comeback bids.
Source: Shoulder charge ‘on way out’
