'Absolutely hate it': Andrew Johns delivers impassioned plea to NRL over 'cheap shot' cannonball tackles

Andrew Johns has erupted and called for change after a dangerous cannonball tackle left Roosters star Siua Wong on the sidelines with a knee injury.

The back-rower was taken from the field in Sunday's match against the Cowboys after a nasty tackle from Karl Lawton and will now miss up to six weeks of action.

Lawton wasn't penalised at the time, but the next day was charged by the match review committee and slapped with a two-game suspension.

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Speaking on Nine's Freddy and The Eighth, the legendary halfback erupted over the tackle and said it needs to be stamped out of the game.

"It was a cheap shot," Johns said.

"This isn't a shot at the Cowboys or Karl Lawton, because everyone does it and everyone trains to do it. Every club does it … I absolutely hate it.

"This has got to stop." 

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James Tedesco pointed out it wasn't the first time a similar thing had happened this year, with forward Nat Butcher sidelined with an MCL injury after a hip-drop tackle from Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny that went unpunished during the game.

"We've had three of these this year - guys getting injured but not getting penalised in the game," the Roosters captain said.

"They stop the game, so they watch this four or five times.

"They said the shoulder was above the knee, but they got him on the knee."

According to the official definition, cannonball tackles can still be penalised regardless of where the initial contact is and is related to any potential dangerous impact.

"The initial point of contact must be assessed, but even if the initial contact is above the knee or knee joint this type of tackle can be considered dangerous and potentially charged," an NRL Judiciary Code explanation outlines

"The attacking player being placed into a position of vulnerability where they have no ability to protect themselves must also be considered.

"A key consideration is whether the contact caused the knee or knee joint into a position or direction outside of it's normal range of movement."

While the conjecture around the rule itself will continue to be a topic of debate, Johns warned that a major change needed to be made before a player's career ends.

"I've got a solution," he said.

"When a player comes in - just say it's Payne Haas and you need three or four people on impact - but once myself and Freddy get him and hold him and get the handles and wrap it up, you should not allow the third player to get in.

"Once there's two men in the tackle and the momentum is pretty much stopped, no third man in - you can not have the third man coming in at the legs.

"It's a conversation where you need the RLPA, the powers that be and the referees to get in a room and talk about this. Until - god forbid - Nathan Cleary, Isaiya Katoa or James Tedesco destroy their knee and they're out for lifetime, that's when we change it.

"We've got to get it out of the game, it's so dangerous."