League: Storm skipper asks refs to show restraint

SYDNEY - Kiwis second rower David Kidwell has pleaded for referees to show restraint as new tackle laws banning contact with the head or neck come into force on the National Rugby League's opening weekend.

Kidwell, who has been chosen from the Storm's six-man leadership group to captain the side against the Warriors at Ericsson Stadium on Sunday, fears the opening round of the competition could degenerate into a "penalty-a-thon" as officials enforce the new policies aimed at curbing head injuries.

The measures were introduced after teams, particularly the Storm, employed a "grapple" tackle around the head to slow the attacker's play-the-ball last season.

"I think there has to be a bit of leniency," Kidwell said. "Obviously tackles that are blatantly around the head and neck should be penalised, but the marginal ones, in my opinion, should be left alone.

"Both the Warriors and Storm are attacking teams who like to use the ball and hopefully the flow of the game isn't ruined by a heap of penalties," the Christchurch-born enforcer told the Age newspaper in Melbourne.

"I guess all we're looking for is consistency and hopefully there is some common sense shown."

Referee Steve Clark, who will control Sunday's match, led the NRL's crackdown on grapple tackles during pre-season trials and awarded a string of penalties during Storm's hitout against Parramatta last month.

After that game, Storm coach Craig Bellamy expressed fears the game would become "like rugby union" if mounting penalty counts became the norm.

Clark's appointment will present an added challenge for Kidwell.

The pair were involved in a heated exchange in their match at Cronulla last year, which ended with the fiery forward sinbinned for dissent.

- NZPA