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Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary has handed the NRL a reality check over their touted crackdown on foul play that saw an unprecedented number of players punished by officials.
In a response aimed at the worrying rise in players suffering concussion after head knocks, the ARLC issued a directive to referees this week to come down hard on any contact with the head or neck.
NRL boss Peter V'landys promised the crackdown would spectacularly kick-off at Magic Round, and true to form, the league's lawmaker kept his word.
In all, 14 players were sin binned and three were sent off, in a wild round of footy in Brisbane, as players and fans alike were left scratching their heads over the new state of play.
Speaking at the closure of the weekend's action, Cleary offered perhaps the most direct assessment by a player as he prodded the NRL to soften their approach or risk losing the essence of the game.
"I think it's gone a little bit too far," Cleary told Fox Sports.
"It's a contact sport, and some of those things you can't avoid.
"I'm all for getting the high contact out of the game but at the end of the day someone is falling into you, you can't just disappear.
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"I think they'll get it right, it was probably just a weekend trying to implement it.
"But hopefully, we can get it back to normal a little."
The 23-year-old's take echoes a slew of pundits around the game who were less than impressed with the league's new sensitivity around big hits.
"Head-high tackles? A slap in the face and you're gone to the sin-bin, seriously," NRL legend Johnathan Thurston said on the opening night of Magic Round.
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"It's just taken away from what the game has been built on, toughness.
"I understand swinging arms and a duty of care, but some of them were just ridiculous.
"Obviously, there's going to be teething problems, but please, c'mon, this is rugby league."