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Morley gets seven matches
July 26, 2006
SYDNEY Roosters prop Adrian Morley has played his last NRL match after the judiciary tonight suspended him for seven matches for kneeing Bulldogs hooker Corey Hughes.
With only six rounds to play in the minor premiership, and the Roosters ruled out of finals contention, the ban means Morley will not play for the Bondi Junction club again before returning to the UK to play for Super league club Warrington next season.
He will, however, be free to play some part in Great Britain's Tri-Nations campaign at the end of the season.
"I'm bitterly disappointed my NRL and Roosters career finished this way," Morley said.
"I would have liked to have played for the Roosters but that's not to be.
"`I'd like to thank the NRL for a fair hearing."
Morley, 29, was sent off by rookie referee Jarred Maxwell after kneeing Hughes in the abdomen in the 68th minute of the Roosters' 25-0 loss at Telstra Stadium on Saturday night, and his ungraded striking charge was referred straight to the NRL judiciary.
Tonight's suspension was Morley's 11th ban since he joined the Roosters in 2001.
He has spent 27 weeks on the sidelines.
Morley pleaded for mercy before the three-man panel of Bob Lindner, Mark Coyne and Jason Stevens, saying he was desperate to play for the Roosters again and to take part in the Tri-Nations series.
NRL judiciary counsel Peter Kite called for a nine-week ban, labelling Morley's act a "blight on the game" while comparing it with Greg Bird's act in 2004.
The Sharks utility, the last player previously sent off for kneeing in a match, was banned for 10 weeks for his knee to the head of South Sydney centre Shane Marteene.
Morley's suspensions since joining Sydney Roosters in 2001
2001
Round 9: Careless high tackle (three weeks)
2002
Round 2: Careless high tackle (one week)
Semi-final: Tripping (one week)
2003
Round 15: Careless high tackle (1 week)
Round 21: Careless high tackle (three weeks)
2004
Round 4: Careless high tackle (one week)
Round 10: Careless high tackle (three weeks)
Round 19: Careless high tackle (two weeks)
2005
Round 16: Contrary conduct, knee lifting (three weeks)
2006
Round 1: Careless high tackle (two weeks)
Round 20: Striking (seven weeks)
Total bans: 11.
Total weeks suspended: 27 weeks.
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7 matches seems a tad light, imo.
July 26, 2006
SYDNEY Roosters prop Adrian Morley has played his last NRL match after the judiciary tonight suspended him for seven matches for kneeing Bulldogs hooker Corey Hughes.
With only six rounds to play in the minor premiership, and the Roosters ruled out of finals contention, the ban means Morley will not play for the Bondi Junction club again before returning to the UK to play for Super league club Warrington next season.
He will, however, be free to play some part in Great Britain's Tri-Nations campaign at the end of the season.
"I'm bitterly disappointed my NRL and Roosters career finished this way," Morley said.
"I would have liked to have played for the Roosters but that's not to be.
"`I'd like to thank the NRL for a fair hearing."
Morley, 29, was sent off by rookie referee Jarred Maxwell after kneeing Hughes in the abdomen in the 68th minute of the Roosters' 25-0 loss at Telstra Stadium on Saturday night, and his ungraded striking charge was referred straight to the NRL judiciary.
Tonight's suspension was Morley's 11th ban since he joined the Roosters in 2001.
He has spent 27 weeks on the sidelines.
Morley pleaded for mercy before the three-man panel of Bob Lindner, Mark Coyne and Jason Stevens, saying he was desperate to play for the Roosters again and to take part in the Tri-Nations series.
NRL judiciary counsel Peter Kite called for a nine-week ban, labelling Morley's act a "blight on the game" while comparing it with Greg Bird's act in 2004.
The Sharks utility, the last player previously sent off for kneeing in a match, was banned for 10 weeks for his knee to the head of South Sydney centre Shane Marteene.
Morley's suspensions since joining Sydney Roosters in 2001
2001
Round 9: Careless high tackle (three weeks)
2002
Round 2: Careless high tackle (one week)
Semi-final: Tripping (one week)
2003
Round 15: Careless high tackle (1 week)
Round 21: Careless high tackle (three weeks)
2004
Round 4: Careless high tackle (one week)
Round 10: Careless high tackle (three weeks)
Round 19: Careless high tackle (two weeks)
2005
Round 16: Contrary conduct, knee lifting (three weeks)
2006
Round 1: Careless high tackle (two weeks)
Round 20: Striking (seven weeks)
Total bans: 11.
Total weeks suspended: 27 weeks.
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7 matches seems a tad light, imo.
