Brisbane Broncos NRLW star Ashleigh Werner sent off for allegedly biting Roosters opponent – as shocking act makes unwanted footy history
- Ashleigh Werner is said to have bitten an opponent
- Werner became the very first NRLW broadcast
- Roosters defeated the Broncos 36-18
Brisbane winger Ashleigh Werner made history in her debut NRLW match for biting opponent Jayme Fressard in a 36-18 win by the Sydney Roosters on the opening day of the competition.
Werner became the first televised match when she was given her marching order for the alleged bite midway through the second half.
Fressard had put her arm around Werner’s face as she made a tackle and immediately staggered away in obvious pain.
The Bunker reviewed the incident and could see that Werner had clamped her mouth on her rival’s arm, leaving referee Wyatt Raymond with no choice but to send her off.
“The Bunker looked into it. The hand goes into the mouth and she clamps onto the hand so she’s gone,” Raymond told Broncos captain Ali Brigginshaw.
Ashleigh Werner was sent off for allegedly biting Roosters winger Jayme Fressard
Werner was broadcast for the first time on Saturday evening
“It doesn’t look very good from the eye, but any time an arm or a hand is around someone’s head and in contact with the teeth, know from experience that it feels like someone might actually bite you,” said Broncos coach Scott Prince.
“It’s a contact game and every time you hit the mouth you feel like you’ve been bitten. We’ll have to see what’s going on with the Fressard accusation.”
Fressard was sure she was bitten during the tackle and has the spurs to prove it.
“Frezzy’s arm has some teeth marks,” Roosters coach John Strange said after the game.
“She’s not too happy (about the incident), but we’ll leave that to the judiciary. It’s a shame this happened in the game, but Frezzy is fine.
“There are teeth marks in her arm, so I’m not sure if the mouthguard is shaped like teeth. There’s quite a bit of blood and teeth marks.’
Retired footy star Allana Ferguson thought the broadcast was fair.
“It’s a tough one, because (Fressard) had her arm over her mouth for an extended period of time,” Ferguson said on Nine.
Werner’s fate now rests with the match review committee meeting on Sunday
“But, I mean, that shot right there speaks volumes.”
Phil Gould thought Fressard’s reaction to the incident may have contributed to the penalty, but did not think it was unfair.
“(Werner) has her mouthguard on so I’m not sure how much it would have hurt,” Gould said on Nine.
“But if she’s been pinched, it should be discouraged, and it’s one of the things footballers hate. They hate gouging and they hate biting.’
Footy fans took to social media to comment on the departure, with most agreeing it was poor form from the Broncos debutant.
“A bit of Luis Suarez,” said one Twitter user.
“What a bastard,” remarked another.
Other fans sided with Werner, believing the forearm was pressed into her face.
“I’m a bit on the side of the player who put the arm in her open mouth, sorry… Punishment should have been the other way around,” said one user.
The competition committee will now decide on Werner’s fate.