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That Corey Hughes is a cheeky bastard. If he takes the piss, someone put one on his chin

Adrian Morley talks about his life as an NRL enforcer and the moment of madness that ended his Roosters career fi nish, but it defi nitely made The judiciary came back with their me more aware that I didn’t verdict. Seven matches. My Roosters Y the start of 2005, I’d he carried an aura about him. He could have long left. career was over. I was shattered. I missed 14 NRL games come up with the big plays when they We faced the Bulldogs in couldn’t believe that was it. through suspension. I’d been were needed, and crack a game open. He Round 20, and before we ran Our last game of the season, against banned on eight separate was a freakish talent at times. out Ricky gave us specifi c St George , was at the Sydney Boccasions, with all but one In Round 10, we travelled to New instructions. Cricket Ground. I had a couple of beers being for careless high tackles. But I’d Zealand to take on the Warriors. “That Corey Hughes is a while the boys were warming up, then I never been sent off. In our last meeting the year before, cheeky bastard,’’ he said of their made my way down to the sheds. Before a That changed when we played the their forward Awen Guttenbeil had hooker. “If he takes the piss, match, we’d huddle in a circle just before Bulldogs in Round 6, when Paul Simpkins fl oored Ned Catic with a great shot. But someone put one on his chin.’’ we ran out. dismissed me for a high shot on Matt Utai. instead of walking away, Awen stood Sure enough, Ricky was right. I had my suit on, but I joined the It was a penalty at worst. Thankfully, the over Ned, mouthing off at him. We Hughes was a niggling player, huddle. I looked around at the boys, and Roosters won the game without me and won the game, but afterwards Ricky and I spotted him putting his it hit me. I’m never going to be in this I didn’t get a suspension, but it got to me. I Stuart blew up at us. knees in on the tackle. I waited huddle again. I started fi lling up. Once started feeling there was a bit of a “If any player, from any team, does for my chance. I tackled him, got Craig Fitzgibbon, our captain, starting witch-hunt against me. It got to a point that to one of us,” he screamed. “You to my feet. I was second marker. talking, I couldn’t hold back. I held on to where I only had to catch a player high f...ing go over and chin him.” Hughes shoved the fi rst marker in them tight and cried my eyes out. and the ref would give a penalty. That was in my mind as we took to front of me. A green light fl ashed. The boys went out and ended up It was our fi rst year without Brad the pitch at Mt Smart stadium. It’s on. getting beaten 36-16. Amos Roberts Fittler, and we struggled at times. I thought, I’ve got a green light I rushed at him, ready to clock scored two tries, Fitzy was terrifi c and When he was younger, Freddie may from Ricky to nail him. Legally or him one, just like Ricky wanted. played a blinder. But when have got the captaincy for being the illegally, he was going to get it. It was Trouble was he hadn’t seen me, Ricky hushed the players to present his best player. As well as being obscenely nothing personal, because Awen was and was bent over to play the ball. fi nal coach’s man of the match prize, he talented, he was diplomatic, smart, a a good fella, but he’d made the book Instead of just stopping, or waiting, picked me, because I showed so much decent lookin’ fella; the poster boy for a – my self-compiled list of blokes to go or retreating, I carried on. And emotion before the game. captain. But he grew into the role and at. I didn’t have to wait long for my kneed him right in the head. The boys applauded, but Finchy was became a real leader. He was tough, and chance. He came off the bench in the I thought it would start a brawl. quick to take the piss. “How unfair is fi rst half, got the ball early, I lined I cocked my fi st and braced myself that,’’ he said to me. “I played my bollocks him up and cleaned him out. It was for a fl urry of punches. But I looked off out there – and you get an award for a sweet shot, and it was legal, too. a round and everyone was looking crying your eyes out.’’ Out of all my shots . . . that one at me with the same expression on on Guttenbeil was probably my their faces. An expression which said, >> These are edited extracts favourite from my time in the NRL. “What the f... are you doing?’’ from MOZ: My story In the airport, waiting for our I didn’t know. The ref sent me fl ight home after that match, straight off, and I had no complaints. Ricky pulled me to one side. I was so annoyed with myself. Hughes “You got a minute, mate,’’ he was fi ne, and why wouldn’t he be? said. I followed him to the bar, Seriously, it was the girliest knee ever. where he perched himself on It was more a shove with my knee, a stool and ordered two large rather than a UFC strike into his head. bourbons. The drinks arrived, we The media lapped it up. When I chinked glasses, and we downed turned up for the judiciary, it was like them in one gulp. He didn’t even something out of the OJ Simpson trial. say a word, and he didn’t need There were camera crews everywhere. to. It was his way of showing his I pleaded guilty straight away, hoping appreciation for what I’d done, they’d go easy on me. There were six and it meant a lot to me. games left and I was desperate to play Once I’d signed to go back for the Roosters at least once more. home (the following year), I , the Canterbury prop, MOZ: MY STORY by questioned whether I’d made even wrote and asked for leniency on my the right decision. I loved behalf, saying it would be a shame if I Published by The Slattery my life in Coogee, the Aussie never got to play in the NRL again. Media Group lifestyle, the Roosters. My I thought that was a great gesture, RRP $32.95 exit didn’t make me more because I hadn’t asked him to do it. I sent ON SALE MARCH determined to have a strong him a text afterwards to thank him.