Three Sea Eagles players have been charged in the fallout to Thursday night’s loss to the Tigers.
Haumole Olakau’atu, Corey Waddell and Ethan Bullemor were all sin binned in the 34-26 defeat, with the first two charged for high shots along with Taniela Paseka.
Waddell is the only one looking at time on the sidelines, facing a two-game ban with an early plea for a grade two careless high tackle.
That will become a three-game ban if he unsuccessfully challenges the ruling.
Elsewhere, both Olakau’atu and Paseka were charged with grade one careless high tackles but can escape with a fine if they take the early plea.
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Olakau’atu was sent for 10 in the 46th minute for what the Bunker deemed was a high shot on Mason as he returned a Reuben Garrick kick, however not all are convinced the decision is the correct call.
Referee Peter Gough informed the edge forward that “there’s direct contact to the head, moderate force (and) you actually come up into contact,” before sending him to the bin.
Fox League’s Cooper Cronk was unsure if the Blues forward had anything to answer for.
“I don’t know if it is contact to the head. At first glance I thought it was contact to the shoulder. Yes it was aggressive,” Cronk said on Fox League’s coverage.
“Yes it was forceful but I’m not sure if this makes contact directly to the head.
“I think that’s shoulder on shoulder.”
Commentator Warren Smith agreed there was “nothing wrong with the contact as far as the attempt to make a wrapping tackle.”
At the point Olakau’atu was sent to the sin bin Manly were leading the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.
However, Alex Seyfarth scored in the first set the Sea Eagles defended with 12 men, before Manly product Latu Fainu crossed in the 52nd minute to extend the Tigers’ lead.
Bullemor and Waddell were also sin binned during the game, with Paseka also involved in the tackle on Solomon Alaiamlo which saw Waddell binned.
