Sam Burgess is not a grubby player, insists teammate Roy Asotasi, after the South Sydney star accepted a two-match NRL ban for an alleged “squirrel grip”.
England international Burgess on Tuesday opted to take the early guilty plea on a contrary conduct charge stemming from an incident which left Melbourne centre Will Chambers writhing the AAMI Stadium turf on Friday night.
There was widespread speculation that Burgess had squeezed Chambers’ testicles while making a tackle after video footage of the incident appeared on social media over the weekend.
Burgess’ loading from four previous judiciary matters means he will miss two blockbuster home games for the second-placed Rabbitohs – against third-placed Manly on Friday night and fifth-placed Canterbury the following weekend.
If Burgess had contested the charge and lost, he would still have missed two matches.
After seeing vision of the tackle, Rabbitohs veteran Asotasi admitted on Tuesday he thought Burgess may have had a case to answer but he was quick to defend his teammate.
“A lot of people out there are saying that Sam’s a grub,” Asotasi said on Tuesday.
“It’s not what Sammy is as a person. He goes out and plays hard and sometimes things happen.”
Asotasi was unware of the incident until he saw footage after training on Monday.
“I knew something had happened at the time but didn’t really pay attention to it. But then I saw it and thought `He could be in a bit of trouble here’,” he said.
The loss of the 24-year-old is a big blow for the Rabbitohs, who’ve lost three of their last four matches to slip off the top of the ladder.
However they are expected to get star fullback Greg Inglis back from injury this week for his first match since the third State of Origin game.
planko
Guest
How big were they SAM !
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Hmm, wernt you the one carrying on the most about paul gallen and nate myles ? So its ok to sexually assault someone on the field as long as you dont throw a punch ???
oikee
Guest
Hehe, it was not really a handful of nuts, it was only a pinch. You guys amuse me, all outraged and carrying on like a bunch of pork chops. +1 +2 _+3. ha. I would be more concerned about drugs in sport. That is the problem, not some guy tugging on the crown jewels. Maybe your rage should be pointed at Hoppa, he wants the biff, headshots and fingerbuns all brought back into the game, so we can all go oldschool again. Yippee, we can even dig up Joe and knock a few more old buildings down. Yeah. Come on, like Grahams nibble on Slaters ear, a storm in a teacup, or Billy in a teacup this case.
planko
Guest
2 weeks is just the start .. How much are people going to go to town on him. This kinds thing gets put on your grave
planko
Guest
+3
Meesta Cool
Guest
What is it that affects Pommie Forwards when they play Storm?, they are brilliant week after week then suddenly get strange desires to bite on ears and grab 'Jacks Crackers', I wonder if its a Pommie Primal mating instinct that is excited by the Storm Players aftershave. Footnote -- The name "Pommie" is not a derogatory term it is a term of endearment!.. My favourite parents and my brother were all this breed!.
Australian Rules
Guest
+2
Australian Rules
Guest
...if you're into that sort of thing.
bully
Guest
no he got suspended for 2 big games if they judged by the Niagras he would have been suspended for only maybe parra and tigers or 1 say penrith game.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Do they judge the length of the sentence based on the number of Niagras?
DMW
Guest
Give it some time... You'll be astonished when the movie is released. Sam's innocent... The real culprit was... ... ... ... Slater!
Clark
Guest
He's grabbed a guy's testicles. How can you even defend that?
des' right hand
Guest
Ah Sammy boy what would Suzie Boyle think about your actions... At the end of the day he's an idiot for that low act but big Sammy is one of the best forwards going round and he is just exciting too watch puts on the big hits scores tries sets them up he's a gun. Unfortunately for him the fans have a long memory and won't let him forget.
des' right hand
Guest
+1
des' right hand
Guest
Mate you continue to be an egg didn't the big marn take les boyd to court in the real world and sue him for 30,000 and Gary jack did the same too Ian Roberts all in the real world
Shag On A Rock
Guest
Witchety Sam!
Shag On A Rock
Guest
Blokes like Johnno enjoy the testicle grabbing and high hits until it happens to them, but I could be wrong about the former, not that there's anything wrong with that.
Mals
Guest
Well said!
Pot Stirrer
Guest
Ive played and coached alot of footy in league and union and in all my years ive never known any blokes who would have contemplate grabing another blokes nuts. To blame fustration is ridiculous, Blokes in the UFC who are about to get choked out dont even think about doing somethig like that. Burgss comes across as a decent blke but seiously what kind of person does that ?
DMW
Guest
Asotasi all of a sudden has an opinion. Must be the new energiser batteries handed out at training. Or his wife is holidays.