Overnight Wrap

Bulldogs forward Brad Morrin has been suspended for eight games by the NRL Judiciary for biting Parramatta centre Timana Tahu last Friday.

The ban ends any chance of Morrin playing again this season.

The judiciary panel took 15 minutes before handing down their punishment.

The decision means he will not play again this season even if the Bulldogs manage to reach the grand final. NRL prosecutor Peter Kite had suggested an 8-10 week ban for MORRIN while the Bulldogs defence counsel Jim Hall asked for the panel to consider only a three to four week suspension.

Morrin says he is embarrassed by the incident and he immediately apologised to TAHU after the game. He also says he will never do it again.

The suspension equals the worst for biting in the history of the game, with Canterbury centre Jarrod McCracken suspended for eight matches in 1991 for biting South Sydney's Ross Harrington.

It is six weeks longer than the previous ban handed to Chris Beattie in 2001.

MORRIN says it was a "stupid" act and one he will never commit again.

Meanwhile, Huddersfield have confirmed the signing of star New Zealand centre Paul Whatuira on a three-year contract from the Wests Tigers.

The club had hoped to retain Whatuira, but salary cap pressures meant the Tigers were unable to come up with a reasonable offer for the two-time premiership winner.

After receiving overtures from rugby union, Canberra and at least two English Super League clubs, Whatuira has agreed to join fellow former Tigers teammates John Skandalis, Shane Elford and Jamaal Lolesi at Huddersfield from 2008.

Whatuira's deal has reportedly been structured to allow him to gain a release after the first year should he not take to living in England.