The NRL’s crackdown on fighting will act as a deterrent, but NSW State of Origin skipper Paul Gallen believes emotions will continue to get the better of players in the heat of the battle.
Gallen became the face of the league’s new hardline stance on fighting – which will see players sin-binned for throwing a punch – after his attack on Queensland forward Nate Myles in State of Origin I.
It didn’t take long for the edict to be put to the test with two players sent off and another two sin-binned following an all-in brawl in a Under-20s game on the weekend.
The four players involved were left facing the prospect of a combined 14 weeks worth of suspensions as a result.
Given the impact playing with one less player can have on a side, Gallen said players would be less inclined to throw punches.
“I think it’s pretty obvious that if you have a fight you get sin-binned,” he said.
“I do think it will be a deterrent, but I think there will still be players in the heat of the moment where things will happen.
“It’s a game for grown men – sometimes in the heat of the battle it’s hard to hold your nerve.
“I don’t think it will be the end of it but I think you’ll find some players hold their fists back.”
The tougher stance on fighting has raised the prospect of players being baited into retaliating with their fists, given the advantage it could give the other side if a player is binned.
Despite the focus, Gallen was doing his best not to get caught up in the fuss.
“I’m not concerned about fighting, I wasn’t concerned about fighting in game one, I was concerned about winning a game of football,” he said.
“Things like that happen on the field sometimes but players now know what the consequences will be, I think we’ll bite our tongues a bit more.”