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Sky Sports said:LONG HITS OUT AT TERRY-IBLE TACKLE
Friday 16th September 2005
Sean Long has lambasted Great Britain team-mate Terry Newton over the tackle that left him with a fractured cheekbone which rules him out of the post-season of the engage Super League. Long required surgery on the injury that is also likely to sideline him for the Gillette Tri-Nations series.
Newton received a seven-match ban from the Rugby League's disciplinary committee for his part in the incident and though he issued a statement apologising for the tackle, he has not contacted his international colleague personally.
"I have not spoken to him since Friday and he hasn't tried to call me," said Long.
"Ian Millward did contact me to tell me that there was no intent in the tackle but, if that was the case, why was he using his elbow?
"I haven't received an apology and I wouldn't accept one now anyway. I have seen the video and that speaks for itself."
Newton received a further three-match suspension from the RFL for another challenge that left St Helens second rower Lee Gilmour concussed.
Newton's statement read: "I am sorry for Sean Long who received an injury following my collision with him.
"He is a Great Britain team-mate and I do not enjoy seeing him injured.
"At the same time I want to make it absolutely clear to everyone that I did not tackle Sean with any intent to cause injury. I tackle aggressively and did so on this occasion but my sole intention was to use my shoulder and sadly Sean was injured, but I stress it was not my intent."
Newton has revealed that he will contest the seven-match ban handed down to him by the RFL.
bbc said:Long rejects Newton apology claim
St Helens scrum-half Sean Long has angrily dismissed reports that Wigan hooker Terry Newton has apologised for the tackle which ended his season.
Long has had two metal plates inserted to repair his fractured cheekbone and has been told it may take up to a year to regain full feeling in his face.
"I haven't received an apology and I wouldn't accept one anyway. The video speaks for itself," said Long.
Newton's appeal against his seven-game ban will be heard early next week.
Newton was found guilty of using his forearm and elbow on Long and received an aditional three-match suspension after being found guilty of using his forearm on Lee Gilmour in the same match.
Immediately after the incident, Long was declared a serious doubt for the Tri-Nations series starting in October, but there are now fears he could still be struggling beyond that time.
"I have not spoken to him since Friday and he hasn't tried to call me," said Long.
"Wigan coach Ian Millward did contact me to tell me that there was no intent in the tackle, but if that was the case why was he using his elbow?"
Long's brother Karl saw him before he underwent surgery, and said he looked in a terrible state.
"He was in a very bad way, his face was in a right state," he told the Manchester Evening News. "His cheekbone was smashed in four places up to the eye. "He told me he couldn't feel his face and we've since found out it could take up to a year before he gets full feeling back into this part of his face."
