Canberra coach Matthew Elliott has publicly questioned the National Rugby League's crackdown on spear tackles as Cronulla prepares to take on the judiciary over the issue.

The Sharks entered a not guilty plea to a grade three dangerous throw charge levelled against Sam Isemonger and are ready to dispute the grading of a similar offence against Daniel Dumas.

Their decision came as Elliott weighed in on the issue - despite the Raiders failing to have any players charged with dangerous throw offences.

"I feel that some of the tackles that have been referred to the disciplinary committee ... I don't see them as being dangerous tackles," he said.

The Sharks also entered a not guilty plea to a grade three careless high tackle charge against prop Dale Newton.

Cronulla general manager Steve Rogers admitted the club was entering new territory with its decision to fight the dangerous throw charges after a recent edict from the league to provide greater deterrents to spear tackles.

Rogers said the club wouldn't be using any previous spear tackles as comparisons because the severity of tackles was now judged differently.

"We can't really refer to early ones because they (the NRL) have moved the goalposts," he said.

"I think we are dealing with this one on its merits.

"The roles of the two players in the tackle are very, very different.

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