Tallis wants NRL youngsters protected - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Tallis wants NRL youngsters protected

By Laine Clark 18/07/2004 08:01:25 PM Comments (0)

The man known as "The Raging Bull" again worked up a head of steam at EnergyAustralia Stadium - off the field.

After helping steer the Broncos to a 16-12 win at Newcastle, Brisbane hardman Gorden Tallis came out swinging over the treatment of their gun fullback Karmichael Hunt after the teenager copped several head knocks.

Tallis said the league needed to do more to protect youngsters such as Hunt before taking a thinly veiled swipe at Sydney Roosters coach Ricky Stuart and his hardman Adrian Morley who was again placed on report this weekend, this time for a tackle on Dragons youngster Aaron Wheatley.

Tallis was clearly bristling after the 17-year-old Hunt was hit hard in tackles several times and "had headaches at halftime".

"He gets them (high tackles) every time. You get one coach who complains about his players getting targeted for giving head highs but this young bloke he's 17 and every week he gets hit around the head and no one seems to take any action," Tallis said.

"You talk about protecting the players. You got one bloke who runs a thin red line and his coach knows he is very aggressive and you've got a 17 year old, new to the game, getting bashed every week - I know who the game has got to protect."

Hunt still bounced back to finish off a remarkable 80m effort that involved seven pairs of hands in the 48th minute and was always dangerous with the ball in his hands.

Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett dipped his hat to the youngster who was king hit in backplay last weekend by St George Illawarra player David Howell, earning the Dragon a three week suspension.

"I just can't believe his toughness. I think most of you missed it last week, we certainly did, when he got hit from behind and the guy got three weeks for it," he said.

"He got up from that, after I saw it I couldn't believe we didn't notice it, but he just got up - he's so tough, it's a rare quality ... at that age."

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