Morley only ousted for 7 matches

[Cleavy]

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.
-------
7 matches seems a tad light, imo.

 

[is2SWaNz]

Aww...this is terrible news! Even though i agree with you Cleavy that 7 weeks is abit too soft, but its his last match with the Roosters. As I a roosters fan as well, it's such a terrible terrible way to end his NRL career in Australia. This is a big shame! I'm going to miss his great tackles and hit ups! *sniffs* I guess Nate Myles has to fill in the big shoes Morley has left in 2007!

 

[year of the roo]

Farcicle. Danny Williams would be turning in his grave.

 

[eddiesmith]

Disgraceful to think he got less than Bird with that record

 

[LebaneseForces]

Disgraceful to think he got less than Bird with that record

His record wasn't taken into consideration and rightfully so, he has been suspended for absolutely comical incidents!!! Bird's knee was disgusting!! He lined Shane's head up and smashed him with the knee, Morley had a brain explosion and pushed Corey Hughes with his knee (IMO)... While a knees a knee, it's sad to see such a tough and great player leave the NRL in these circumstances!!!
Hopefully he can carve up for Great Britain later this year!

 

[MrAaron]

if he was playing for Storm, he would have got 15 weeks quite easily, no worrys about that

 

[LebaneseForces]

if he was playing for Storm, he would have got 15 weeks quite easily, no worrys about that

Billy Slaters lash out on John was much worse and he copped only 7 weeks from memory as well...

 

[year of the roo]

Billy Slaters lash out on John was much worse and he copped only 7 weeks from memory as well...

No way was Slater's worse, and he had a clean record. Morley on the other hand...

I don't see how this decision can be defended. Simply awful.

 

[magpie_militia]

Farcicle. Danny Williams would be turning in his grave.

Get your hand of it. Williams was the CHEAPEST KING HIT that I have ever seen. Morley's knee was more stupid than cheap (player wasn't injured).

 

[Calthorpe14]

Get your hand of it. Williams was the CHEAPEST KING HIT that I have ever seen. Morley's knee was more stupid than cheap (player wasn't injured).

Morley's wasn't far away, the guy had his head down and there was some force behind it.

7 weeks is astounding, especially due to his record.

 

[ALwaysNorth]

It was dumb and blatant but had little effect and Hughes was pushed over more than anything , 7 weeks about right IMO .

 

[eddiesmith]

His record wasn't taken into consideration and rightfully so, he has been suspended for absolutely comical incidents!!! Bird's knee was disgusting!! He lined Shane's head up and smashed him with the knee, Morley had a brain explosion and pushed Corey Hughes with his knee (IMO)... While a knees a knee, it's sad to see such a tough and great player leave the NRL in these circumstances!!!
Hopefully he can carve up for Great Britain later this year!

Yeah absolutely comical incidents, previous kneeing charge, long suspension recently for striking and numerous high tackles, obviously a thug or careless, yet they dont take the record into account? A joke...

They give players lengthy suspensions first time up then let serial offenders off lightly and to think I complain about the AFL system

 

[Spewing]

Lucky he did'nt get 3 months for that iccident.