fLIP
UFO Hunter
MANLY'S Adam Cuthbertson has spoken of his deep regret at his high shot on Canberra's Troy Thompson that will see the Sea Eagles' forward miss his first NRL game through suspension.
Cuthbertson yesterday accepted the early guilty plea over his contrary conduct charge following his send off in Manly's win over the Raiders last Friday night.
The 23-year-old will miss Sunday's huge clash with the Roosters at Brookvale Oval.
It's the first time the Avalon junior has been sent off in any grade of football and the first time he's been charged by the NRL judiciary in two years of top-grade action.
While admitting he was surprised to have got his marching orders for the tackle, a disappointed Cuthbertson said he hoped his cleanskin reputation had not been tarnished by the incident.
"It was just an accident ... I regretted doing it as soon as it happened," he said after training at Narrabeen yesterday.
"I said sorry to Troy straight after the game.
"I didn't sleep too well (on Friday night).
"My role is to make an impact off the bench, I went out there a bit aggressive but it just slipped up in the wrong position and I hit him high. It's definitely not in my game and it's not me as a person.
"I will cop the ban on the chin and just try and move on from there."
In team news, Steven Bell returns to the starting line-up on the wing for the clash with the NRL frontrunners, with Michael Robertson shifted to fullback in the absence of Origin custodian Brett Stewart.
Bell has missed the last three matches with an elbow injury.
Centre Steve Matai and skipper Matt Orford were sent home from training early yesterday with the flu but are expected to face the Roosters.
Vic Mauro, Nick Bradley-Qalilawa and Shane Neumann were all named on a six-man bench with the two outside backs likely to drop off.
* New Manly signing Tony Williams will make his NRL debut on Saturday after he was selected in the Eels line-up for their clash with the Raiders.
Cuthbertson yesterday accepted the early guilty plea over his contrary conduct charge following his send off in Manly's win over the Raiders last Friday night.
The 23-year-old will miss Sunday's huge clash with the Roosters at Brookvale Oval.
It's the first time the Avalon junior has been sent off in any grade of football and the first time he's been charged by the NRL judiciary in two years of top-grade action.
While admitting he was surprised to have got his marching orders for the tackle, a disappointed Cuthbertson said he hoped his cleanskin reputation had not been tarnished by the incident.
"It was just an accident ... I regretted doing it as soon as it happened," he said after training at Narrabeen yesterday.
"I said sorry to Troy straight after the game.
"I didn't sleep too well (on Friday night).
"My role is to make an impact off the bench, I went out there a bit aggressive but it just slipped up in the wrong position and I hit him high. It's definitely not in my game and it's not me as a person.
"I will cop the ban on the chin and just try and move on from there."
In team news, Steven Bell returns to the starting line-up on the wing for the clash with the NRL frontrunners, with Michael Robertson shifted to fullback in the absence of Origin custodian Brett Stewart.
Bell has missed the last three matches with an elbow injury.
Centre Steve Matai and skipper Matt Orford were sent home from training early yesterday with the flu but are expected to face the Roosters.
Vic Mauro, Nick Bradley-Qalilawa and Shane Neumann were all named on a six-man bench with the two outside backs likely to drop off.
* New Manly signing Tony Williams will make his NRL debut on Saturday after he was selected in the Eels line-up for their clash with the Raiders.