Kurt Gidley has issued a challenge to the NRL.
Like Newcastle legend Andrew Johns, Gidley wants the rot to stop. It's time the game took a hard-line stance.
For too long the little creative types have been subjected to foul play.
North Queensland skipper Johnathan Thurston drew a line in the sand last week when he spoke out after copping a late shot from Manly backrower Jack Goisweski
"He doesn't deserve and other players don't deserve to be dog shot in the back," Johns declared on Channel Nine commentary last week.
"I've been harping on it for a long time but someone is going to get seriously injured. They're going to hurt their neck, break their back or hurt their kidneys and we'll react then.
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"There has to be some long suspensions and then they'll stop. They do it to the playmaker to discourage the playmaker from coming into the line.
Gidley has echoed the message.
It needs to be stamped out of the game.
"I'm totally behind Joey pushing this because I'm not a fan at all," Gidley declared on the Round 14 edition of Kurt's Call.
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"I love the game being physical. Being a half, I was prepared to be knocked around. That's part of being a half and the forward's targeting halves and I want my forwards targeting other halves."
Three weeks ago, Kalyn Ponga was collected high by Cronulla enforcer Luke Lewis in a sign opposition defence are starting to target the livewire.
But it's not just the young guns in the firing line.
In Newcastle's 30-4 win over Parramatta last week, the Knights lost veteran forward Chris Heighinton to concussion after a shoulder charge by Tepai Moeroa.
Moeroa copped a three-game suspension, while Gosiewski was banned for two games.
"It has to be done legally and it has to be done almost as they are passing the ball," he said.
Check out the latest edition of Kurt's Call in the video above!
