Roosters rookie rubbed out for season

[Granty]

.

I was wondering what happened to this fellow.

A heavy penalty - but not one that is undeserved.

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http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/10/22/2398720.htm

Roosters rookie rubbed out for season

Sydney Roosters player Ulise Fahina has been suspended for 26 matches for kicking an opponent in this year's under-20s competition.

The suspension means he will miss the 2009 season.

Fahina was referred to the judiciary for kicking a St George Illawarra player in round 26.

[Granty]

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/sport/nrl/story/0,26746,24538741-5003409,00.html

Roosters youngster banned for 26 weeks after kicking opponent in head

By Christian Nicolussi
October 21, 2008 11:00pm

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6312801,00.jpg
Gone for the season...Sydney Roosters Toyota Cup
player Ulise Fahina appears on a kicking charge.
Picture: Mark Evans / The Daily Telegraph

The NRL judiciary last night banned a teenage winger for a combined 26 weeks on two charges which included kicking a Toyota Cup opponent in the head.

Roosters rookie Ulise Fahina received 25 weeks for the kicking incident and a further week for a contrary conduct charge which stemmed from an incident earlier in the same match, the final-round Cup clash with St George Illawarra.

Fahina, 18, was described at the hearing as a player with "potential to play in the NRL at a very young age" but this carried little weight with the three-man panel charged with examining his actions during a wild brawl in the game. It was alleged Fahina ran more than 10 metres to launch his boot into the face of unsuspecting Dragons winger Daniel Nicastri.

NRL counsel Peter Kite said had a similar incident involved an experienced NRL player, "you'd wonder if they'd be welcome back in the game".

Roosters chief executive Brian Canavan said Fahina, who wore his Patrician Brothers Blacktown school blazer, was naturally disappointed with having to sit out the 2009 season. He said the club would continue to support him.

Kite said the video footage could not be ignored and a tough penalty was needed.

"It's difficult to concede there is a more serious offence," Kite said.

"It's an extraordinarily violent piece of behaviour and the pictures and the sound of the boot hitting the head says volumes about that.

"This is not a case of defending a mate. This is a case of supporting an attack. Yes, you have to consider his youth, but you'd expect players 12 and 13 years old to know they can't kick a player in the head."

The quietly-spoken Fahina said he felt remorse and was unaware what he had done until given his marching orders.

"Something just happened, I didn't realise what I had done until afterwards. That's when the ref sent me off," Fahina said.

"It's not good, not acceptable, (but I accept) there are no excuses for what happened."

Fahina was snapped up by the Roosters after starring for the Panthers earlier in the season.

[Granty]

off-season and no football makes Grantwhy go crazy
off-season and no football makes Grantwhy go crazy
off-season and no football makes Grantwhy go crazy
off-season and no football makes Grantwhy go crazy
off-season and no football makes Grantwhy go crazy
off-season and no football makes Grantwhy go Boot to the head (http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=vFldBVWFgWo)
off-season and no football makes Grantwhy go crazy
off-season and no football makes Grantwhy go crazy
off-season and no football makes Grantwhy go crazy
off-season and no football makes Grantwhy go crazy

:tongue:

[Bernster]

Shouldn't the last sentence include Priceless :]-