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Rugby League

Morley admits striking charge

25/07/2006

Adrian Morley has pleaded guilty to a striking charge in the hope that Australian National Rugby League (NRL) officials refrain from banning him from playing in the forthcoming Tri Nations series.

Great Britain's Test front row forward was cited for raising his knee into Canterbury Bulldogs star Corey Hughes during the Sydney Roosters' 25-0 defeat on Saturday.

The last player charged with a similar kneeing offence, Cronulla's Greg Bird, was banned for ten matches but it has been suggested an even longer ban, of up to 18 weeks, could be handed to Morley.

This would rule him out of the remaining six weeks of the NRL season as well as the Tri Nations series and the start of next season when he will be playing for his new team Warrington in the Super League.

Morley, 29, was referred directly to the NRL judiciary meaning he was not been given the option of an early guilty plea which can reduce the length of a player's ban.

Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan yesterday defended the player in the wake of the incident saying he has been a consistently fair player during his six years at the club.

"Adrian is very popular among players at our club and at other clubs," Canavan told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Most of his previous judiciary charges have been low-range careless high tackles so this is out of character for him and, in his time with the Roosters, he's certainly been good for our club and good for the NRL."

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