Cronulla prop Braden Hamlin-Uele has defended the character of Will Kennedy as the livewire’s suspension looks set to force the Sharks into blooding their fourth-choice fullback against North Queensland.
Kennedy has been rubbed out of Saturday’s trip to Townsville after picking up a one-game ban for colliding with referee Adam Gee in the Sharks last outing - a 58-6 thrashing of Wests Tigers.
Cronulla opted against challenging the charge given they risked adding an extra game to Kennedy’s ban if they lost their appeal at the NRL judiciary.
Sharks great Paul Gallen labelled Kennedy’s suspension "insane" but NRL football boss Graham Annesley said any contact with an official - incidental or otherwise - would not be tolerated.
Such is his shortage of fullback options, Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon must now weigh up whether to throw rookie Liam Ison into the No.1 jersey for Saturday’s meeting with the Cowboys.
Hamlin-Uele, meanwhile, said Kennedy was full of regret and gave the reliable Sharks fullback a clip for his costly suspension.
"Will was lucky that Adam Gee was facing the other way because I reckon he would have folded Will," 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."
Kennedy’s absence is likely to hand 19-year-old Ison his starting debut.
Kade Dykes, who would have been the natural replacement, is out for the season with an ACL while utility Daniel Atkinson is deputising for Nicho Hynes in the halves.
Atkinson has seen former Penrith prodigy Ison tear it up in the NSW Cup and said the teenager would not be overawed.
"He’s pretty quick on his feet, I’ve played with him in a couple of games for Newtown," Atkinson said.
"He’s a real competitor, a footy kid through and through and he’s a good bloke."
Cronulla sit third heading into round 21 and have defeated the Cowboys in their last three meetings.
