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Manly have been slammed by the judiciary with both Daly Cherry-Evans and Haumole Olakau’atu charged for two weeks for their part in a dangerous throw on Parramatta’s Shaun Lane.
They could still appeal, but would potentially face a third week if they choose to challenge.
Parramatta escaped with no bans: Maika Sivo, whose brain explosion cost his side the game, was fined $3,000 and Ryan Matterson got $1,000 for his bellringer on Luke Brooks, which was adjudged as a high tackle despite going unpunished on the field.
Anthony Seibold claimed it was a good tackle with an unfortunate ending and is hopeful the Manly star can avoid a ban.
Olakau’atu was sin-binned four minutes into the Sea Eagles’ 32-18 win over the Eels on Friday night, with the Tongan star in early trouble for a lifting tackle on Lane.
Referee Gerard Sutton appeared ready to march the Manly second-rower, before opting to bin Olakau’atu following an extensive review from the bunker.
Olakau’atu initially hit Lane’s front, before the momentum continued in the tackle and he and Daly Cherry-Evans flipped the Eels forward over and landed him on his back.
Lane subsequently left the field for a HIA, but was able to return.
Olakau’atu could escape with a fine if handed a grade-one charge, but a grade-two would result in a minimum two-game ban. A grade-three charge would rule Olakau’atu out for four weeks with an early plea, and halt any push for NSW State of Origin selection.
“I thought it was an accident,” Seibold said. “It wasn’t like a typical lifting tackle. He hit him through the stomach, which is a really good tackle. And then Chez was on top.
“He did land in an unfortunate position. But he come back on and played the rest of the game. I thought 10 minutes was sufficient for the tackle, so hopefully nothing more comes with that.”
Cherry-Evans argued on-field with Sutton that his involvement was a mitigating factor, and that should be considered in any sanction. “I definitely had a role in the tackle,” Cherry-Evans said after.
“It just overcompensated what was happening in the tackle. Ten minutes in the bin was probably fair. I’d like to think that’s hopefully all and we’ll move on.”
Panthers prop Liam Henry was the only player charged from Saturday’s matches and faces a fine of $1000-$1500 for a careless high tackle.
Meanwhle, South Sydney winger Taane Milne is lucky to only be facing a ban of 2-3 matches for his nasty tackle on Cameron Munster in the dying stages of Thursday night’s 54-20 flogging at AAMI Park.
Milne was sin-binned in the final minute and put on report for attacking Munster’s legs after he had been held in a standing tackle, which coach Jason Demetriou described as a “dumb note to end a dumb night”.
The Fijian representative was charged with a grade-two dangerous contact offence.
Cowboys legend Johnathan Thurston was disgusted with the tackle on Nine commentary: “We don’t need this in the game. This is purely trying to hurt players. He just burrows down, he doesn’t have his eyes up. He goes straight in under the knees, I think the NRL need to come down hard on this because it was a dumb play and he’s put his team under pressure now because they’ve already got seven or eight players on the sidelines.
Cameron Smith added that it was “foolish, irresponsible and uncalled for”.
Milne can only miss a fortnight with an early guilty plea but risks a third match on the sideline if he challenges the judiciary verdict.
The two-game ban adds to Demetriou’s woes as he fights to keep his job in charge of the last-placed Rabbitohs.
Still searching for their second win of the season, the Rabbitohs couldn’t afford to lose another member of their backline with Latrell Mitchell (suspension), Campbell Graham, Alex Johnston and Richie Kennar (injured) all unavailable for next week’s clash against premiers Penrith.
Xavier Coates breaks a tackle of Taane Milne to score a try. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
Demetriou intimated after the loss to the Storm – Souths’ sixth from seven games this year – Izaac Thompson would come into the side to replace Milne.
Milne’s mindless shot adds to his unenviable rap sheet. The 28-year-old became the first man sent off in a finals match in almost 30 years when he hit Spencer Leniu high during the 2022 play-offs, again once the match was well out of reach for Souths.
He received a six-game ban on that occasion and was charged three times again across 2023, though he did not spend any more time on the sidelines.
But Milne’s latest hit was listed as a first offence with his recent grade-one offences wiped from his record given it occurred more than 10 games ago.
Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan was charged twice for dangerous contact in his team’s Anzac Day caning by the Roosters for separate incidents on Sam Walker and Luke Keary.
He can cop a combined $2000 in fines with early guilty pleas.
Titans forward David Fifita ($1800-$2500) and Warriors rookie Jacob Laban ($1000-$1500) were also pinged for dangerous contact from Thursday’s triple-header.
with AAP
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