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
BeastieBoy
Roar Rookie
This is this articles Headline...Massive Manly blow as Haumole and DCE banned... is this FAKE news? DCE was NOT Banned !!!
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans has been successful in having his charge downgrade to a grade one offence at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night. DCE judiciary hearing, 30 April 2024: “The hearing has been shown numerous replays of the tackle from eight different camera angles”. We don’t have the luxury of seeing all the angles that the match review or the judiciary see, or the bunker.
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans has been successful in having his charge downgrade to a grade one offence at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night. DCE judiciary hearing, 30 April 2024: “The hearing has been shown numerous replays of the tackle from eight different camera angles”. We don’t have the luxury of seeing all the angles that the match review or the judiciary see, or the bunker.
zonecadet
Roar Rookie
Well that remains to be seen Jimmy. Nonetheless, I think the AFL is more likely to see juniors develop in non-Aussie Rules states quicker than the NRL will see juniors develop in non RL states. If the NRL put expansion teams in Adelaide and Perth, they'll gain benefit from attendances and eyes on the TV but will not get any growth in juniors feeding up to the pro-level.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
I can’t talk about the Matterson tackle; I didn’t see it when it happened so I’m not 100% sure how bad it was. As for Sivo, I don’t disagree - I think he should have been rubbed out. It’s grubby, it’s unnecessary, and it’s a bad look. As for the other two; the NRL’s always going to come down hard on lifting/dangerous tackles and they sort of have to. The risk of injury is so high and the margin for error so low, examples need to be made to stamp them out. Heck, Nathan Cleary, the NRL’s poster boy, got a 5-week suspension for upending Dylan Brown a couple years back. If the NRL are willing to ban their golden child for over a month for a bad lift (as they should have!), the Manly duo had no chance of escaping suspension.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
You must have one of those super smart TV s mate.. it’s picking up graphic detail no one else can see.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
The fact remains that two players from one club, neither of whom have poor records, are potentially out for a fortnight and Matterson had no sanction on field and a feather duster fine and Sivo, a guy recently returned from suspension, is free to play this week if he pays a few bucks. No equity in that decision at all. Spot the difference
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Just to clarify: Lane was airborn legs perpendicular to the ground and above his head. This was a direct result of dangerous contact made by Cherry and H.O. On spiraling to the ground HO continued to hold on to the upper body of Lane not just allowing his 6'5" frame to fall and take the weight of his 110 kilogram but in the words of bunker and referee do so with 'considerable force'. On sitting up Lane's first reaction was to reach for his neck and head. What specifically is exaggerated here ? So you think the Manly pair should risk an additional game (Brisbane) and fight this ?
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
Nope. Watch it again and tell me who “slammed him on his neck”. Are you claiming DCE did or are you claiming Olakau’atu did? He landed in a dangerous position, but noone “slammed him” and they alrwady copped “medicine” in the game with penalty and sin bin. Your claim is an obvious exaggeration.
Good Grief
Roar Rookie
That’s not a response nor relevant to anything I’ve written. Stupid.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Absolutely not - I’m astounded that Sivo was only given a paltry fine. There’s zero defence there; two strikes to the head after a tackle has been completed - it’s utterly inexcusable. It’s not a tackle gone wrong or accidental contact; it’s a deliberate strike. I was somewhat surprised he only got 10 in the bin during the game and blown away that he was only fined by the MRC. That being said, there’s also an argument to be made that his fine is still a substantial penalty on the Eels as a whole, because it means he’ll be free to play their next game. Tongue in cheek response aside, all 3 of them should be on the sidelines for a couple of weeks. I don’t know what the rationale was behind introducing fines but I can’t call it a success. All it’s done is acted as a slap on the wrist for repeat offenders considering the fines aren’t even a fraction of their salaries. The old system of carry over points made more sense; at least then players knew they had to change their style on field or risk time on the sidelines.
OrpheusRocca
Roar Rookie
Talk about brain fades. King Gutho was filthy about Sivo's brain fade, as it jeopardised their chances for the next 10 min. But Ola's and DCE's will likely cost Manly their next TWO matches!
Panthers
Roar Rookie
There were two leg lifting tackles in the first set Parramatta had after halftime. One again by Olakau’atu who lifted both of the players legs & dumped him on his upper back. The other again lifting both legs & dumping the player on his back . I guess it’s not dangerous if you lift both legs & dump them on the upper part of the back? As neither was penalised or mentioned by the commentators.
Short Memory
Roar Rookie
No it's not. Olakau'atu didn't lift Lane in any way. He wrapped his arms around his waist and drove straight. Lane got upended over DCE's hip. If DCE doesn't use his horrible Cumberland throw technique then Ola's tackle is absolutely textbook.
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
BS!
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
So it’ll be ok for SuperT and Nicho to throw Lomax over there hip and say we had no intent to hurt him.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
I doubt it was intent but they'll go reckless or careless and add a duty of care clause. That's Haumole I don't know why Cherry got the same charge.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
When Lane came off at 1/2 time he told Danika Mason that it was more of a shoulder issue, and not actually a head issue. But I digress. There was no intent to attack the head, wrestle or crusher him. He just got a bit of momentum and gravity took over. Anyway doesn't matter now, Cherry got 2 weeks, I disagree with it.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
We talking about the Grade 2 dangerous throw that put Lane out of the game for 25' ? You oughta go back and have another look.
up in the north
Roar Rookie
Yeah souvalis, but that didn't actually happen did it? It was bodies in motion at high speed without intent to cause harm. Not one body slam was hurt in the production of that tackle.