Tate wants crackdown on tackle

Brent Tate has called on NRL officials to crack down on the cannonball tackle this season after the controversial ploy almost ended his career.

Tate, who believes he will be back to his full ability for the first time in Saturday night's All Stars clash since undergoing a third knee reconstruction after the 2010 Four Nations final, said the injury had been caused by a cannonball tackle.

The North Queensland centre said he did not think the tackle was intended to cause him such a serious injury but fears a similar blow to his knee would force him into retirement.

''The tackle that bloody did it is the tackle they are trying to outlaw now, so I am hoping that the NRL take a real hard stance on it,'' Tate said.

''I don't think they meant to hurt my knee or anything like that but it was diving at the legs, which is a real concern for me and I think it is a concern for most blokes.

''I can't afford to have blokes diving at my legs like that but is not just me, it is all players.

''It is too dangerous and it is going to finish someone's career if they don't do something about it.

New Zealand hooker Issac Luke was twice cautioned over ''cannonball'' tackles during last season's Four Nations tournament before receiving a two-match ban for an illegal leg twist on England halfback Rangi Chase.

The NRL match review committee is yet to charge a player for a ''cannonball'' tackle but Tate said they had to get tougher this season.

''I really hope they come down hard on those sort of tackles,'' he said. ''We dont want to get to a point where someone hurts themselves really bad and we say we have to do something.''

The injury sidelined Tate for most of last season and the 29-year-old said he was only ''paddling'' when he made his comeback for the Cowboys.

However, his initial reaction after suffering the injury was his career was over and he was seen on television crying in the dressing room.

Channel Nine's decision to air the footage divided opinion but Tate said he was pleased it had given the public an insight into what players go through.

''I probably wasn't entirely comfort able about it but I think people could see the pain and the disappointment I was going through and they related to that,'' he said.