News Brad Fittler says James Tedesco needs to 'fix' running style

[chisdog]

What Tedesco must 'fix' to avoid concussions

Blues coach's blunt advice for star's 'wellbeing'

wwos.nine.com.au

'Something he has to look at it': Brad Fittler says James Tedesco needs to 'fix' running style

Blues coach Brad Fittler admits James Tedesco will need to adjust his running style "for his own wellbeing".

One week before the NRL clamped down on high shots, Tedesco found himself on the wrong end of a shoulder charge from Marata Niukore, which saw the Eels centre suspended for two matches.

The NRL's response a week later saw 14 players were sin binned and three sent off as a result of the league's hard stand on high tackles.

Fittler applauded the NRL's stance during last weekend's Magic Round and said it was important that all tackles, including hip drops, are looked at closely by the game.

"We need to keep going down the path of let's make it a thuggery-free sport," Fittler told Nine News Sydney.

"15 years ago when specific tackles were coming into the game, if we identified them then like everyone watching the game, we wouldn't have this problem at the moment.

"It's not just high tackles, it's other parts of the game like hip drops. If we spot them coming into the game, we should come down heavily."

And while Tedesco's a certainty to take on Fittler's fullback duties when the Origin series opener comes around next month, the Blues coach admits the Rooster may need to change his running style to avoid high shots, as was the case with Niukore.

The 28-year-old was forced to miss a game earlier this season due to a head knock suffered in round seven, which was Tedesco's first concussion this year after copping two head knocks last year, one of which occurred in the Origin decider.

"James Tedesco is a great example - his running style, he most probably needs to fix that himself because he's been on the end of three high tackles over that," he said.

"That's something he has to look at it.

"I'm not [worried about how he runs], but for his own wellbeing he needs to check out why he's dropping as he does."

 

[chisdog]

Good to know that Fittler reads The Kennel!

 

[Alan79]

If anything I imagine that many players will be adjusting their running style to feign head knocks while this crackdown is happening. I think that the fact that players frequently take dives now to try to draw a penalty indicates that some will try to make their game easier by getting an opponent sent to the bin or sent off altogether.

 

[Pity Fool]

These new rules have opened up Pandoras box and wont be able to ever shut it again. The exploitation by coaches and players will start very soon and the entire sport will be an entire joke, more so than it is already! The lunatics are well and truly running the asylum... RIP NRL!

 

[Motorhead]

Fuck him, he needs more high shots to make him wake up to himself. Lucky Nick forked out extra for the industrial falsies for him.

 

[alchemist]

Tedesco is 28 years old... what exactly is he "fixing" at this stage of his career?

 

[Malla]

Fuck him, he needs more high shots to make him wake up to himself. Lucky Nick forked out extra for the industrial falsies for him.

Yes lol he needs a few more hits to the jaw to change his running style

 

[EzyB]

So now players have to change the way they talk walk eat shit sleep cause NRL wants to protect them. Just change the game to touch.

 

[MatstaDogg]

If anything I imagine that many players will be adjusting their running style to feign head knocks while this crackdown is happening. I think that the fact that players frequently take dives now to try to draw a penalty indicates that some will try to make their game easier by getting an opponent sent to the bin or sent off altogether.

Yep, it's turning into soccer with the amount of milking of penalties these days. You see it so many times where a player will stay down "injured" then jump straight back to their feet as soon as the penalty is awarded. Example of this last weekend was Cody Walker staying down after Townsend virtually brushed the top of his head while claiming it was a crusher tackle. Faking it like a little bitch.

 

[Bulldogsteve]

These new rules have opened up Pandoras box and wont be able to ever shut it again. The exploitation by coaches and players will start very soon and the entire sport will be an entire joke, more so than it is already! The lunatics are well and truly running the asylum... RIP NRL!

they are not new rules, you have never been allowed to attack the head. Only thing that has changed is that they are taking more action on the field.

 

[Baby Blues]

they are not new rules, you have never been allowed to attack the head. Only thing that has changed is that they are taking more action on the field.

The NRL has probably been that billion dollar law suit in the NFL decided they need to protect themselves just as much as the players

 

[Bulldogsteve]

Yep, it's turning into soccer with the amount of milking of penalties these days. You see it so many times where a player will stay down "injured" then jump straight back to their feet as soon as the penalty is awarded. Example of this last weekend was Cody Walker staying down after Townsend virtually brushed the top of his head while claiming it was a crusher tackle. Faking it like a little bitch.

id like to see players get fines for doing that, agree he just milked it

 

[N4TE]

So now players have to change the way they talk walk eat shit sleep cause NRL wants to protect them. Just change the game to touch.

I have a problem with touch as it insinuates that of a sexual nature and lack of consent between the two parties..

 

[Motorhead]

The NRL has probably been that billion dollar law suit in the NFL decided they need to protect themselves just as much as the players

That is all it is. They wouldn't care what happens to the players. The only thing they want to avoid is the massive lawsuit.

 

[D0GMATIC]

He definitely lowers the level of his head just prior to the tacklers impact

 

[Shanked]

The NRL has probably been that billion dollar law suit in the NFL decided they need to protect themselves just as much as the players

yes, but adding a sin bin doesn't fix anything, because they've always been punished for connecting with the head

 

[dogluva]

He is not worried about Tedesco's running style but he needs to change it? He needs to change to avoid high shots...?

Brad seemed more concerned about the tackling style of players when Tedesco was hit a few weeks ago and applauded the fact that the NRL is cracking down on it.... just which one is it Fittler? You can't solely blame players for hitting a bloke a bit high when it is pretty much recognized that the player being tackled has a running style which might contribute to him being hit high.

Sure, we don't see punches anymore, but punches are not accidental they are deliberate acts....and should be banned. Make the game thuggery free... accidental shots are not examples of thuggery Brad, they are accidents by definition.

I understand what is happening but the game is definitely worse off for the cock eyed decisions being made each game. Did you hear Vossy tonight advocating two sin bins should be " a red card?" Please do not give the Muppets running the game any ideas.....

The game will slowly fade away........ as it is it is a shadow of its former self........