By Dean Ritchie
September 05, 2007
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22368832-5001021,00.html
BULLDOGS superstar Sonny Bill Williams will miss only one finals match after successfully having a striking charge downgraded at the NRL judiciary last night.
Williams will be free to return to football after the Dogs' semi-final against the Cowboys on Friday night in Townsville after earlier facing a three-match ban.
Represented by solicitor Jim Hall, the Bulldogs won the argument for a downgrade after a hearing that lasted more than an hour at NRL headquarters.
The result is a massive boost to the Bulldogs' premiership hopes, with many believing they can not win win the competition without their No.1 strike weapon.
The one-match suspension cost Sonny Bill any chance of being named Dally M Second-Rower of the Year because he had been suspended earlier in the season for striking Knights champion Andrew Johns.
"I'm stoked at the outcome," Williams said after the hearing.
"I'm pumped. We ran the gauntlet and came up trumps.
"I wish the boys the best this week and I'll be back raring to go the next week."
"At this time of year you never want to miss a finals game.
"I've learnt my lesson. I won't be going into tackles too recklessly again."
Williams argued that his forearm glanced off Thurston's shoulder in the incident early in the game.
During the hearing, Williams said: "I know I hit him in the head but there was no intent and I didn't go into the tackle to hurt him. If I did get him flush, I'd have knocked him out or broken his jaw."
