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Former rugby star threatens to tackle PM

AAP

AAP

NRL legend Senator Glenn Lazarus has some shocking news for Prime Minister Tony Abbott, he wants to apply some on-field techniques to the coal seam gas debate.

Frankly, Senator Lazarus said he wanted to use a “squirrel grip” and techniques made famous by Manly, Wests Tigers and Northern Eagles player John Hopoate on Mr Abbott.

A squirrel grip is an illegal rugby tackle targeting an opponent’s testicles. Hopoate famously used a rigid finger to an opponent’s rectum to get them moving. He was suspended for 12 weeks for using the now infamous move.

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What these taboo tackles have to do with a petition to ban coal seam gas mining from residential areas of Queensland is yet to be determined, but it would certainly get Mr Abbott’s attention.

“I threatened Tony Abbott to shirtfront him about this issue … I’m so determined to give these people a voice and to have Tony Abbott and his government go and see for themselves exactly what these people are going through,” the State of Origin legend once named ‘The Brick with Eyes’ said.

“I think it’s very unAustralian, I am prepared to go and squirrel grip, squirrel grip, the Prime Minister.”

“If that doesn’t work I’ve got other things up my sleeves such as the grapple tackle, the chicken wing and even the crusher tackle.

“If that doesn’t work I’m prepared to use the Hopoate tackles.

“I am so, I guess, desperate and fired up in regards to getting Tony Abbott and his government to actually recognise the fact these wells, these coal mines, in and around residential properties is causing absolutely (sic) havoc to the residents that are living there.”

He praised the New South Wales government for buying back CSG exploration licenses near Sydney suburbs, and said the Queensland government should do the same.

Queensland residents who protested against CSG exploration on Tuesday said gas extraction causes nose bleeds, ill health and lack of sleep, The Australian reported.

Mr Lazarus came to parliament in Fairfax MP Clive Palmer’s Palmer United Party but left and formed his own party, the Glenn Lazarus Team, where he is the only member, in May 2015.

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