Legendary NRL playmakers Cooper Cronk and Andrew Johns have raised questions over the latest referee crackdown, describing some recent penalties as "soft" in recent weeks.
All the spotlight has been placed on the hip-drop dramas in recent weeks, with the likes of Payne Haas and Nat Butcher spending time on the sidelines, but there has been another lingering issue involving the officials.
During the Anzac Day clash between the Roosters and Dragons, an incident involving Zac Lomax and Luke Keary was controversially penalised in the first-half.
Lomax would tackle Keary seemingly as he kicked the ball, but referee Andrew Gee penalised the Red V centre for a late tackle on the kicker.
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The same issue occurred on Thursday night in Cronulla's huge win over the Cowboys, with Coen Hass cited for a similar tackle on star halfback Nicho Hynes.
Watch the tackle from Hess on Hynes below.
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) April 27, 2023Speaking on Fox League during the coverage, Cronk questioned the recent approach from the on-field officials and disagreed with the penalty against the North Queensland forward.
“For me, there’s not much in that at all,” he said.
“It’s not late, it’s not high, he’s wrapped his arms around. The only thing is is that Hynes’ legs are off the ground.
“They’ve definitely changed their approach, the referees, on protecting the kickers. Over the past couple of weekends, there’s been some soft penalties given away.
“Coaches are going to have to change their mentality here for their players, because a few years ago you couldn’t push, then they went to you having to wrap your arms - now you basically can’t even touch them."
While the penalty didn't have any great deal of consequences during the 44-6 loss for the Cowboys, it does cause some concern for fans of the game, as well as current and past players.
Dragons premiership winner and NRLW coach Jamie Soward took to social media during the Round 9 fixture to condemn the recent penalties.
#NRL just make a blanket rule. You can’t tackle the kicker at all. There’s no incentive to put kick pressure on. That’s good old fashioned kick pressure which as a kicker you expect.
This is NFL (qtrback) policing. ????????♂️
On the Channel Nine coverage of the Sharks impressive victory, rugby league Immortal Johns was also quick to criticise the refereeing and brought up the Lomax tackle from the previous round.
“Is this a new rule? Last week, there was a challenge from Zac Lomax on Luke Keary," he said.
"That is simultaneous...that’s not high, it’s not late. I think the left foot was still on the ground of Hynes. That’s pretty much simultaneous.
"I think that’s a harsh penalty against Coen Hess.”
