Cronulla have denied they deliberately target NRL rivals with illegal cannonball tackle techniques after earning the ire of premiers North Queensland.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan hit back at criticism the side had repeatedly attacked the lower legs of Cowboys players during their season-opening loss last week in Townsville.
Five-eighth James Maloney was handed a concerning act notice by the NRL over his attempted tackle on Cowboys prop James Tamou in which he went in low at the knees.
North Queensland coach Paul Green also revealed several of his players including co-captain Matt Scott were unable to train on Tuesday after being injured by the Sharks' dubious tactics.
However, Flanagan said his troops did not practise the outlawed cannonball tackle, in which the attacker is dangerously chopped down at the knees while he is held up by defenders, and rebuffed suggestions they had intentionally employed illegal tactics against Cowboys players.
"It was just a one-off - James Maloney mistimed it," Flanagan said.
"It's not something we practise. We practise to get three into the tackle and big blokes down on the ground.
"They've got some big men - Scott, (Jason) Taumalolo, Tamou. We wanted to get them on the ground, there's no doubt about it, and every side will do the same.
"But there was no intention to spear in there at the legs, we don't practise it and we don't encourage it."
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