Wade Graham has resisted the urge to change his tackle technique and will continue to aim high on opponents' bodies as he prepares to return from his NRL ban at Cronulla.
The Sharks captain was staggered when he copped a four-match suspension for a reckless high tackle on Davvy Moale last month, questioning what it meant for a technique moulded to avoid concussions.
At the time, Graham admitted he may need to change his thinking after stopping going low on players after a series of head knocks from contact with ball-carriers' hips put his career in doubt in 2021.
But the 32-year-old says he has opted against overhauling his technique again and will instead place an emphasis on not missing his target point.
"I've just backed my technique," Graham said.
"I need to be better with my decision making and where I make contact. I got (Moale) high, but it wasn't by that much.
"It was a close call, so it's just being conscious of the decisions I make out on the field and my target area with my tackling.
"It's just back to my prep, making sure I focus and concentrate so I don't make any mistakes."
Graham's other major message out of his judiciary hearing was a warning for fellow players that the NRL was on the verge of another major crackdown.
In the five rounds since, Graham has seen teammate Dale Finucane cop a three-match ban for a hip-drop tackle, with 16 players suspended for 37 games in total.
Graham said he did not need to rein in his aggression, but it was another reminder to ensure he did not err on target zones.
"If you look back through my career I have always played on that edge of aggression with my defence," he said.
"But when I play the way I play, I need to be conscious of the decisions I make when I am out there. I can't be making any slip ups.
"All players are on notice. I certainly learned my lesson. I am not keen to make that mistake again."
Graham's return comes as the Sharks attempt to end a seven-match head-to-head losing streak against the Sydney Roosters and claim their first win at home this year.
Cronulla's defence is their main concern, with last year's top-four finishers having conceded 117 points in their two wins and three losses.
"We're not sitting where we want to be sitting," Graham said.
