SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 16: Channel nine commentator Matthew Johns addresses the television audience before the round 10 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Sydney Roosters at Parramatta Stadium on May 16, 2008 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Former rugby league great Matty John has called for the NRL to follow the NFL's lead in protecting playmakers.

His comments come after Tariq Sims’ hit on Michael Morgan left the Cowboys half concussed, causing him to miss Origin III next Wednesday.

Furthermore, the NRL has been caught up in a legal battle with former players this week regarding concussion.

Speaking on The Matty Johns Podcast, he highlighted how the American football league do a much better job of looking after the players' welfare.

“If you look at the NFL, they unashamedly protect their playmakers,” Johns said on the podcast.

“You know, their quarterbacks.”

Johns pointed to NFL star Tom Brady's longevity in the game as a great example of why the American league's protection works better.

“There’s been a bit of criticism from old quarterbacks about Brady, saying, ‘he wouldn’t have survived that long back in the old days,’ but that’s part of (my point),” Matty continued.

“In the NFL, you basically can’t touch the quarterback.

“Even when he’s got the ball in his hands and you jam him, you can get done for unnecessary roughness.

“They protect their playmakers to the Nth degree.”

Journalist Paul Kent agreed with Johns' comments, stating the NFL are smarter at preserving their stars.

“This is where our game’s missing and what the NFL have got,” Kent said.

“The NFL realise the quarterbacks are the stars of the game.”

4 COMMENTS

  1. Whilst Matty Johns is a terrific analyst….I can’t agree here. The way NFL quarterbacks are protected is a bit of a joke. I saw in a game last year a defensive lineman get pushed and he accidentally fell on a quarterback. Penalty flag thrown…game lost on the softest call I’ve seen. We don’t want that. Our game is one of attrition. It sets us apart from other games. I agree cheap shots should be taken out but it’s still a tough game. Referees and MRC’s need consistency though.

  2. This is a desperate attempt by the roosters to protect Luke Keary from any contact at all after passing the ball as they know he is 1 rattle away from retirement.
    If the NRL introduces a rule to make it illegal for the ball carrier to be touched after passing no matter how close the call is then it’s the end of NRL.

  3. I’m all for protecting the player makers eg: getting blind sided in the back way after the ball is thrown but if they go all the way to line and last second throw the pass you cannot expect a 110 kg forward to be able to pull out from the tackle in a split second eg: Sims on Morgan. It has to work both ways with a common sense approach to this rule

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