NRL teams anticipate stricter enforcement of head-high contact rules leading to potential player ejections in upcoming games.
Canberra and Cronulla are bracing for the prospect of becoming crash-test dummies for the latest NRL crackdown as Raiders coach Ricky Stuart warned a zero-tolerance approach to head-high contact could lead to games being reduced to 11-a-side.
The Raiders host the Sharks on Thursday in the first game since the NRL sent an edict to clubs, conceding the officiating of head-high shots had slipped with officials now urged to send more players to the sinbin in round five.
Historically such crackdowns have led to an overcorrection from officials with the 2021 Magic Round the most notable...