Bedsey_is_the_best
Adam MacDougall
Sonny Bill Williams snaps
By Dean Ritchie
July 24, 2007 12:00am
BULLDOGS superstar Sonny Bill Williams has become embroiled in another late night off-field drama, smashing a paparazzi photographer's camera at a hip Kings Cross nightspot.
Williams was out with team-mate Willie Tonga and other friends at Hugos nightclub on Saturday when he grabbed the camera off freelance photographer Billy Fidget and hurled it to the ground.
The Daily Telegraph understands Fidget contacted the Bulldogs yesterday, demanding Williams pay for the damage or even the replacement cost of a new camera - between $10,000 and $15,000.
Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad described the incident as a "moment of frustration", but emphatically denied Williams had been drinking alcohol at the time of incident.
"Sonny asked the photographer to stop taking photos but he kept on doing it," Mr Noad said.
"The photographer wouldn't stop. In what can be described as a moment of frustration, Sonny grabbed the camera and threw it away.
"The photographer rang the club and, being a professional, wants his camera fixed.
"Sonny has offered to do that, he has spoken to the photographer today.
"It all happened very quickly but the photographer has said he didn't feel threatened."
The star forward will face the club's disciplinary committee later this week to determine whether he faces any internal action. The club may view the cost of repairs to the camera as sufficient punishment.
Williams vowed to remain off alcohol last month, after being fined for urinating in public during a night out in Cronulla.
The Bulldogs claim to have witnesses to the drama on Saturday who insist the New Zealand Test player was not drinking.
The incident occurred at 11.30pm as Williams was leaving the nightclub. Bulldogs players had been given Sunday and Monday off training.
Both Williams and Fidget were not commenting on the incident last night.
"We don't condone what Sonny did," Mr Noad said.
"He is certainly learning the hard way that he's 21, but he's not a normal 21-year-old. Sonny doesn't see himself as a celebrity but other people do. People want a piece of Sonny 24 hours a day.
"It will cost Sonny a lot of money. It is an expensive lesson and if it costs him between $10,000 to $15,000, that is more than what the club would fine him."
The Bulldogs are monitoring Williams' pledge to give up alcohol and he is attending regular meetings with the club.
"We are confident he's sticking by his word, there was no indication Sonny was drinking," Mr Noad said
By Dean Ritchie
July 24, 2007 12:00am
BULLDOGS superstar Sonny Bill Williams has become embroiled in another late night off-field drama, smashing a paparazzi photographer's camera at a hip Kings Cross nightspot.
Williams was out with team-mate Willie Tonga and other friends at Hugos nightclub on Saturday when he grabbed the camera off freelance photographer Billy Fidget and hurled it to the ground.
The Daily Telegraph understands Fidget contacted the Bulldogs yesterday, demanding Williams pay for the damage or even the replacement cost of a new camera - between $10,000 and $15,000.
Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad described the incident as a "moment of frustration", but emphatically denied Williams had been drinking alcohol at the time of incident.
"Sonny asked the photographer to stop taking photos but he kept on doing it," Mr Noad said.
"The photographer wouldn't stop. In what can be described as a moment of frustration, Sonny grabbed the camera and threw it away.
"The photographer rang the club and, being a professional, wants his camera fixed.
"Sonny has offered to do that, he has spoken to the photographer today.
"It all happened very quickly but the photographer has said he didn't feel threatened."
The star forward will face the club's disciplinary committee later this week to determine whether he faces any internal action. The club may view the cost of repairs to the camera as sufficient punishment.
Williams vowed to remain off alcohol last month, after being fined for urinating in public during a night out in Cronulla.
The Bulldogs claim to have witnesses to the drama on Saturday who insist the New Zealand Test player was not drinking.
The incident occurred at 11.30pm as Williams was leaving the nightclub. Bulldogs players had been given Sunday and Monday off training.
Both Williams and Fidget were not commenting on the incident last night.
"We don't condone what Sonny did," Mr Noad said.
"He is certainly learning the hard way that he's 21, but he's not a normal 21-year-old. Sonny doesn't see himself as a celebrity but other people do. People want a piece of Sonny 24 hours a day.
"It will cost Sonny a lot of money. It is an expensive lesson and if it costs him between $10,000 to $15,000, that is more than what the club would fine him."
The Bulldogs are monitoring Williams' pledge to give up alcohol and he is attending regular meetings with the club.
"We are confident he's sticking by his word, there was no indication Sonny was drinking," Mr Noad said
