‘I reckon he would have folded Will’: Teammates rally around suspended Will Kennedy as rookie firms to make his NRL debut

Cronulla players can appreciate why the NRL is cracking down on contact with referees but feel sorry for suspended fullback Will Kennedy who could be replaced by a promising teenger for Saturday’s showdown with the Cowboys.

Kennedy will miss one match after he was hit with a grade two contrary conduct charge for running into referee Adam Gee while he was backing up a Kayal Iro break near halfway.

The Sharks “reluctantly” accepted the ban instead of risking an extra week if they lost at the judiciary, with Kennedy joining Melbourne’s Jahrome Hughes who was suspended earlier this year for pushing a referee while he was defending his line.

NRL head of football Graham Annesley explained last week why bans had to be handed out as a deterrent to ensure all levels of footy know that it’s never acceptable to make contact with officials, even if it’s an accident.

“Will was lucky that Adam Gee was facing the other way because I reckon he would have folded Will,” teammate Braden Hamlin-Uele said.

“It is unfortunate, but you know Will and he is one of the nicest guys.

“He never meant to do that, it’s a fast-paced game but I don’t know how he didn’t see the bright red shirt.

“If the club saw any way of trying to fight it, they would have. It was just unfortunate that it happened like that and I know Will is remorseful.

“Sometimes it’s hard to avoid because you’re sprinting back trying to get back in the line and he’s sort of bumped him and he never meant to do it.

“We never go out there and mean to do it, but it happens. I understand why they’re cracking down on it, but it’s never blatant.”

Sharks utility Daniel Atkinson is one of the options to replace Kennedy at fullback, although it’s expected he will remain in the halves where he and Braydon Trindall starred against the Wests Tigers with Nicho Hynes out injured.

Teenager Liam Ison has been carving up in reserve grade for the Jets where he scored a hat-trick earlier this month at fullback and could be handed his debut for the trip north.

“He’s pretty quick on his feet, I’ve played with him in a couple of games for Newtown. He’s a real competitor, a footy kid through and through and he’s a good bloke,” Atkinson said.