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Souths legend Craig Coleman let down by club's action against William Zillman
By Peter Badel
August 23, 2009
South Sydney legend Craig Coleman has told Gold Coast Titans he is embarrassed to be a Rabbitohs fan after the suspension of William Zillman for biting.
The club's evidence played a pivotal role in Zillman being rubbed out for four matches, including the Titans' opening finals game, after Gold Coast's appeal was rejected on Friday by NRL judiciary chairman Robert Abood.
Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle says Zillman has been left so shattered by the decision that Titans insiders fear the saga could impact on his mental state when he returns for a sudden-death final.
The Titans have found an unlikely ally in Coleman, who slammed Rabbitohs powerbrokers for pressing on with a matter that has stained Zillman's previously unblemished record.
Former Souths coach Coleman said he was moved to contact Searle after Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson and coach Jason Taylor attended the judicial hearing to support Jamie Simpson's belief he was bitten.
"I don't agree with what they did," said Coleman, Souths' second-most capped player with 208 NRL games. He also had a brief stint with the Gold Coast Seagulls.
"I watched the incident on TV and I didn't see anything that looked like a bite. In my eye, what happens on the field stays on the field.
"They should never have given the kid up. The TV cameras should have been enough evidence, it's just very un-South Sydney.
"Personally, I don't think William Zillman bit Simpson. His mouth was on his arm but he didn't close his mouth. For the rest of his career, he will be known as the guy who bit Jamie Simpson."
Coleman says the current Souths regime's attitude towards the Zillman affair betrayed the proud club's ethos.
"It's not the Souths I know. I wouldn't have done it if I was coach," he said.
"I like Jason Taylor but I don't think he or Jamie Simpson needed to go to the judiciary.
"I've read that they filmed footage of the kid's arm at half-time. That's not the club I played for.
"I have rung Searley to let him know my feelings."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...018866,00.html
By Peter Badel
August 23, 2009
South Sydney legend Craig Coleman has told Gold Coast Titans he is embarrassed to be a Rabbitohs fan after the suspension of William Zillman for biting.
The club's evidence played a pivotal role in Zillman being rubbed out for four matches, including the Titans' opening finals game, after Gold Coast's appeal was rejected on Friday by NRL judiciary chairman Robert Abood.
Gold Coast chief executive Michael Searle says Zillman has been left so shattered by the decision that Titans insiders fear the saga could impact on his mental state when he returns for a sudden-death final.
The Titans have found an unlikely ally in Coleman, who slammed Rabbitohs powerbrokers for pressing on with a matter that has stained Zillman's previously unblemished record.
Former Souths coach Coleman said he was moved to contact Searle after Rabbitohs chief executive Shane Richardson and coach Jason Taylor attended the judicial hearing to support Jamie Simpson's belief he was bitten.
"I don't agree with what they did," said Coleman, Souths' second-most capped player with 208 NRL games. He also had a brief stint with the Gold Coast Seagulls.
"I watched the incident on TV and I didn't see anything that looked like a bite. In my eye, what happens on the field stays on the field.
"They should never have given the kid up. The TV cameras should have been enough evidence, it's just very un-South Sydney.
"Personally, I don't think William Zillman bit Simpson. His mouth was on his arm but he didn't close his mouth. For the rest of his career, he will be known as the guy who bit Jamie Simpson."
Coleman says the current Souths regime's attitude towards the Zillman affair betrayed the proud club's ethos.
"It's not the Souths I know. I wouldn't have done it if I was coach," he said.
"I like Jason Taylor but I don't think he or Jamie Simpson needed to go to the judiciary.
"I've read that they filmed footage of the kid's arm at half-time. That's not the club I played for.
"I have rung Searley to let him know my feelings."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...018866,00.html
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