Sonny Bill Williams is devastated over the shoulder charge ban that has sidelined him for the next three NRL rounds say his Sydney Roosters teammates.
Williams was hit with a grade two shoulder charge from a hit on South Sydney prop George Burgess in the clubs’ NRL season opener.
Williams will sit out games against Parramatta, Brisbane and Manly after taking the early guilty plea.
Roosters five-eighth James Maloney said Williams wasn’t happy when informed of the NRL match review committee charge.
“He was disappointed, disappointed is a pretty media friendly word isn’t it?” Maloney said on Wednesday.
“Apparently it deserved two weeks because it’s what they have ruled.
“It is out of our control, there is nothing we can do about it, we move on and see him back in three weeks.
“There always seems to be a bit of inconsistency there.
“I didn’t agree with it (the shoulder charge) coming out of the game, but it has been and gone now.”
Prop Sam Moa said Williams was bitterly disappointed to be missing three games in his final year in the NRL before he rejoins New Zealand rugby.
“He was devastated when he found out the grading,” Moa said
“He didn’t want to miss any games.
“He was really disappointed because he felt he let the team down.
“But he is a professional and he will be training hard as hard as he can to get back.
“It is a big loss having him out. But we have got the depth to cover for that and that will hold us in good stead.
“It gives another guy an opportunity. We will get the job done.”
The Roosters play big round one winners Parramatta at Allianz Stadium on Saturday and Maloney said they were keen to atone for their 28-8 round one loss to Souths.
“We were disappointed in the way we played,” he said.
“The effort was there but it was just a little bit of poor execution in our defence and attack.
“There is a bit to work on. We were a bit rusty across the board, we got what we deserved and we have this week to fix it up.
“Parramatta played well last week and they will be looking to keep their winning run intact.”
Scrubbit
Guest
No sin bin wouldn't have been enough. The game was already lost for one thing so that isn't really a punishment. It was a front facing purely intentional (not head contact) shoulder charge that struck a player in the head. He should've been charged for dangerous contact and a careless tackle, and it shouldn't matter who he is.
al
Guest
Sin bin would have been enough (for the contact with the head). I will never agree with the shoulder charge ban. I am sure there are a number of people who won't go to the next 3 Roosters games just because SBW is not playing. Loss of revenue as a result of poor administration.
soapit
Guest
absolutely, i'm not sure its coincidence they're complainign about the rule right after one of their players got suspended. he knew what would happen so he shouldnt have done it.
Storm Boy
Guest
Even giving players a $ fine or hours of NRL community work instead of weeks off would be a better system of punishment.
Jack
Guest
Would have gotten away with it last year as the NRL's pin up boy. No free tickets this year.
The Hoff
Guest
Obvious Chooks supporter , the shoulder charge is banned , rightly or wrongly and $BW should think about that before he continues to attack players heads. Who cares about the bloke anyway he will be leaving us soon
al
Guest
And the NRL has punished itself again. Now they suspend one of the hottest players in League for a little contact with the head that should have been rectified on the spot with a sin bin perhaps, that's it. But he's out for 3 weeks and when he's back he'll be scared for the same to happen again and that will only make him play overcautious which is boring for the spectator. And they wonder why fans are walking away...Not too bright, not too bright, I have to say. Not too many brain cells upstairs. Sometimes I wonder if the NRL has some sort of secret deal with Football to let Football take over Australia ;)
al
Guest
No. League admins should leave League. There are plenty of other sports they can manage. Ping Pong for example.
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Hopefully he fixes up that hair and mo during his stint on the bench
Jacksyd
Guest
Judging by his effort R1, you're probably right.
Jacksyd
Guest
Judging by his effort R1, you're probably right.
Jacksyd
Guest
Not sure why he's upset. Will need 3 weeks to get over his sore arse.
John
Guest
He got in trouble doing it for the all blacks too. He should really get it outta his game it's dumb he keeps doing it.
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
If SBW felt he let the team down he was right, he was really stupid. -
Johnno
Guest
In a way this will help SBW season. He had a long season last year the GF and RLWC. So this little break will freshen him up, and allow him to just train. The NRL is a marathon not a sprint, and so bruising. This 3-week rest to train will do him the World of good. And the roosters will be fine for 3 weeks plenty of depth.