EXCLUSIVE: Fittler says Storm 'have to' exploit controversial rule but legends urge NRL to change it

League legends Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler are urging the NRL to change the interpretation of a rule that threatens to hijack Thursday's blockbuster grand final rematch.

A verbal stink has erupted this week between Penrith coach Ivan Cleary and his Melbourne counterpart Craig Bellamy.

Cleary bemoaned the tackled-in-the-air law which has resulted in a number of contentious penalty tries being awarded in recent weeks.

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Both the Storm and the Sharks were beneficiaries of the rule in round 23 when the Bunker awarded highly controversial penalty tries.

Before 2020, it was only illegal for an attacking team to tackle a defending player in the air if they were jumping to catch a kick.

The law was then changed to include protection for the attacking team, too. It means if an attacking player jumps to catch a kicked ball, the defenders can't legally tackle them until they touch the ground.

Last week, Melbourne was gifted a try when hooker Harry Grant cleverly kicked to towering winger Xavier Coates, who was pulled down short of the tryline by Broncos defenders but then awarded a penalty try by the Bunker.

Storm coach Bellamy says his side is only playing to the rules, but Johns and Fittler want them changed.

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"I don't know what they want," Johns said on Nine's Freddy and the Eighth.

"If you are a smaller winger, say (Penrith's) Brian To'o, and someone jumps, is he supposed to just let him go?

"The game is all about competing, every tackle is a competition. Sometimes when they go up (to contest a ball) it is just a natural reaction to grab someone.

"How is that a penalty try? It is absolutely ridiculous.

"You can't referee in black and white rules, especially something like this. That's not even a penalty, let alone a penalty try.

"That is sensational work there from (Dragons winger) Tyrell Sloan (against the Sharks). I don't know what he's supposed to do."

Johns says the rules should include referee discretion to change the interpretation in try-scoring situations.

Cleary is worried his diminutive Panthers winger To'o will be the victim of the same Coates ploy on Thursday night at CommBank Stadium.

To'o was sin-binned during this year's State of Origin series when he had no option but to wrap up Queensland winger Coates in order to prevent a try.

Fittler agrees Melbourne will be kicking to Coates again, but says the NRL is simply allowing the Storm to exploit the law.

"Melbourne is onto it, their coaching staff are quicker than everyone else," Fittler said.

"You need to be able to defend your line. They spoke about well you don't want to change rules - they're not changing a rule, they are just changing the way they rule on it.

"It needs to stop before the finals, without a doubt. This can't go on into the finals... over pre-season and into next year there will be talk about this.

"Melbourne want to win, so they will use the tactic. They have to. It can't fail."

Fittler wants the rule altered by the governing body.

It was initially changed to improve player safety, but there is an argument that's not the way Bunker officials are using it.

"You just can't put someone in a dangerous position," Fittler said.

"It's as simple as that, like Ivan (Cleary) said it was about a safety issue.

"They've just realised, you know what? It's actually not a great rule, because if you've got someone who's tall you just need to kick to them in the in-goal and if they catch the ball it's a try, you can't stop it."

Penrith has won nine games in a row and will be shooting for a 10th against Melbourne, who the Panthers beat in last year's grand final.

The Storm can go top of the NRL ladder with a win on Thursday night.