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Ricketson guilty
By Daniel Pace
September 29, 2004
A PACT made between Sydney Roosters players to never be intimidated again was the catalyst for Luke Ricketson's swinging arm on North Queensland's Nathan Fien.
Guilty ... Luke Ricketson.
Unfortunately for Ricketson, the Roosters' vow to never let an opposition player stand over them cost the lock a spot in Sunday's NRL grand final against the Bulldogs.
Ricketson was tonight unsuccessful in having a grade three striking charge reduced to a level one offence, meaning he copped a three-match ban which ruled him out of the Telstra Stadium decider.
The Roosters stalwart told the judiciary hearing the pact was forged following an incident involving New Zealand Warriors enforcer Awen Guttenbeil in a round 25 match in Auckland last month.
Guttenbeil came from an off-side position to smash Ned Catic and then sledged his dazed opponent while he lay on the ground.
"It was an embarrassment to me and my team," said Ricketson about the incident, which escaped the scrutiny of the NRL match review committee.
"Nothing was done about it and we were bashed for the next half an hour of football.
"Afterwards we made a pact that we would stick up for our players.
"I want to play in a team where someone will support me and I expect to do the same for my teammates."
When Ricketson's defence representative Michael Conn tried to question the former NSW and Test forward on the pact, judiciary chairman Greg Woods became irritable and interjected.
"Are you seriously trying to make a submission based on a vow from the players that they wouldn't be stood over?" Woods asked Conn.
"That would have to be the silliest submission I have ever heard in this tribunal."
Roosters coach Ricky Stuart, who gave evidence on Ricketson's behalf tonight, had said about Guttenbeil's thunderous hit: "I thought it was a cheap shot."
Ricketson argued tonight he was only trying to protect his captain Brad Fittler when he lashed out at Fien in the third minute of Sunday's preliminary final against the Cowboys.
"It was about to erupt," the 31-year-old Ricketson said about Sunday's melee.
Ricketson had his own cheer squad to greet him when he arrived at NRL headquarters to front the judiciary, with a group of 10 supporters chanting "we love Ricko".
By Daniel Pace
September 29, 2004
A PACT made between Sydney Roosters players to never be intimidated again was the catalyst for Luke Ricketson's swinging arm on North Queensland's Nathan Fien.
Guilty ... Luke Ricketson.
Unfortunately for Ricketson, the Roosters' vow to never let an opposition player stand over them cost the lock a spot in Sunday's NRL grand final against the Bulldogs.
Ricketson was tonight unsuccessful in having a grade three striking charge reduced to a level one offence, meaning he copped a three-match ban which ruled him out of the Telstra Stadium decider.
The Roosters stalwart told the judiciary hearing the pact was forged following an incident involving New Zealand Warriors enforcer Awen Guttenbeil in a round 25 match in Auckland last month.
Guttenbeil came from an off-side position to smash Ned Catic and then sledged his dazed opponent while he lay on the ground.
"It was an embarrassment to me and my team," said Ricketson about the incident, which escaped the scrutiny of the NRL match review committee.
"Nothing was done about it and we were bashed for the next half an hour of football.
"Afterwards we made a pact that we would stick up for our players.
"I want to play in a team where someone will support me and I expect to do the same for my teammates."
When Ricketson's defence representative Michael Conn tried to question the former NSW and Test forward on the pact, judiciary chairman Greg Woods became irritable and interjected.
"Are you seriously trying to make a submission based on a vow from the players that they wouldn't be stood over?" Woods asked Conn.
"That would have to be the silliest submission I have ever heard in this tribunal."
Roosters coach Ricky Stuart, who gave evidence on Ricketson's behalf tonight, had said about Guttenbeil's thunderous hit: "I thought it was a cheap shot."
Ricketson argued tonight he was only trying to protect his captain Brad Fittler when he lashed out at Fien in the third minute of Sunday's preliminary final against the Cowboys.
"It was about to erupt," the 31-year-old Ricketson said about Sunday's melee.
Ricketson had his own cheer squad to greet him when he arrived at NRL headquarters to front the judiciary, with a group of 10 supporters chanting "we love Ricko".
:lol: WHAT SICKOS!!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol: 
