Castleford Tigers prop Liam Watts admits anxiety has crept into his game after being 'made an example of' amid the early-season crackdown on head contact.
The experienced forward was sent off in round one for a shoulder to the head of Wigan Warriors front-rower Tyler Dupree and subsequently banned for four matches following a visit to the tribunal on a grade E charge, as well as being hit with a £750 fine. It represented a nightmare start to the campaign for a player who was suspended 10 times in the previous two seasons.
' Watts helped Castleford to a much-needed win on his return to action against Batley Bulldogs in the Challenge Cup. But the 33-year-old anticipates some teething problems as he grapples with his technique. 'I had loads of nervousness,' he said. 'I'm getting to the stage where I'm trying not to use my shoulders; I'm real armsy and when you defend like that you do allow line breaks.
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