Hayne teammate apologises, reveals mum scolded him for victim shaming

Sacked rugby league star Tony Williams has revealed he was given a reality check by his own mum after shaming Jarryd Hayne’s victim.

Tony Williams has offered an apology to Jarryd Hayne’s victim after he criticised her and the justice system following Hayne’s sentencing. (AAP Image/David Moir).

Ex-NRL star Tony Williams has apologised for shaming the victim of Jarryd Hayne’s sexual assault case following huge backlash to his Instagram post that included two of his contracts being torn up.

After Hayne was sentenced to five years and nine months for sexual assaulting a young woman in September, 2018, Williams took to Instagram ridiculing the victim and the justice system for sending “an innocent brotherly to jail.” He also called them “Fn dogs” and a “bunch of flops.”

As a result ,Williams’ current Ron Massey Cup contract with the Windsor Wolves was torn up and his 2022 contract with NARL club New York Freedom was also terminated.

He is now moving to make a series of apologies for his Instagram post.

He has offered several apologies on Instagram since — and gave an interview this week to explain his regret.

He has also revealed to The Sydney Morning Herald his own mum scolded him for his actions.

The 32-year-old comes from a female dominated Polynesian family that includes six sisters. He also is the father of two daughters. He says his mum was quick to pull him up on what he had said about Hayne’s victim.

“Polynesians grow up to respect our women, respect our sisters. Whatever they say we listen,” he said.

“My mum went off at me and said, ‘What happens if it is your sister or daughter?’

Tony Williams played for the Bulldogs for five seasons.

“That got into my head. I understand that, it made me (realise) I said it the wrong way.

“I wasn’t targeting (Hayne’s victim).

“This stuff that happened goes against what I was taught, because my parents taught me better.

“Sometimes anger takes over what you’re really trying to express. I should have gone about it in the right way where it didn’t hurt people.

“If I did it again, I would choose my words differently.”

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Tony Williams apologised on Instagram.

He had plenty to be sorry about.

“Fn dogs,” Williams wrote in his first post following Haynes’ sentencing.

“To all Haynsy’s family and friends stay strong for him and let God do he’s thing I love you all … God always prevails.

“Before I let this be just want to congratulate the victim and the so called justice system you’ve sent an innocent brotherly to jail away from he’s kids you bunch of flops … that’s all respectfully.”

He then apologised for the hurt he has caused and his choice of words in a follow up Instagram post.

“To anyone that I may of (sic) offended I speak from the heart and most of time it’s out of anger a brother had been convicted it isn’t easy to take,” Williams posted on Instagram earlier.

Parramatta players Jarryd Hayne and Tony Williams.

“People that know me know that I’m loyal and loving and sometimes gets the best of me but will never leave a brothers (sic) back when he needs me to hold him up.

“I apologise for the choice of words I used and to anyone that I have caused hurt.

“Especially to people that support me. Sorry”

He told the Herald he is remorseful and if he could have his time over he’d choose his words differently.

“To the victim and her family, apologies,” Williams said.

“Any words that offended them, it’s not who I am. I apologise for the words I used. I hope she gets through it and lives a happy life.

“I understand I hurt a lot of people, but it wasn’t what I was trying to do.

“If I had my time again, I would have chosen my words a lot better than that.

“I do show remorse. I can’t imagine what she was going through or what happened.

“I never meant to hurt them in any way. My anger was about my mate, who I have grown up with since we were kids, going to jail. If anyone has a loyal brother or friends in the same way they will understand.

“I hope she does recover from whatever she has gone through and lives happily with her family and can move on from this.”

Williams is a friend of controversial crosscode star Israel Folau whose had a contract torn up because of his posts on social media about homosexuality. He says he now understands how Folau “feels” and has suggested that other people would come out in support of their friend if they were in a similar position.

“Now I know how (Folau) feels,” Williams said.

“You can understand how we all bond; it’s a connection we had and just had to express something.

“I know a lot of people who don’t know us would say ‘They are flops’ or whatever. They should question themselves, what they would do for their brothers and their close mates that they grew up with. Would they do the same or would they just let them burn?

“Obviously (Hayne) is leaving his family. He’s got a kid on the way he might not see. That hurts me because I know if I wasn’t there for my kid, it would kill me.

“It came out the wrong way. I didn’t think about what I was saying about the victim and her family.”

Williams wasn’t the only former teammate of Hayne to throw their support behind the convicted sex offender.

Krisnan Inu also took to social media with some stinging words — which he has since apologised for. Inu is now being investigated by his current Super League club, Salford Red Devils.

Originally published as Hayne teammate apologises, reveals mum scolded him for victim shaming