Manly’s double trouble with Daly Cherry-Evans and Haumole Olakau’atu both facing bans for ugly tackle on Parramatta’s Shaun Lane
- Second rower Olakau’atu was fouled for the tackle
- Both players have now been on the sidelines for three weeks
- Parramatta left in anger after a number of calls were made against them
Manly have been dealt a massive double blow, with Daly Cherry-Evans and Haumole Olakau’atu both handed bans for their dangerous delivery at Shaun Lane.
After Olakau’atu were sin-binned against Parramatta on Friday night, the NRL match review committee ruled both were guilty on Saturday morning.
The double act has earned the pair a second degree, earning them a two-match ban each, which could increase to three matches if they battle and lose in the judiciary.
The allegations also further frustrated the Eels, who AAP understands were furious over several key decisions in their 32-18 loss on Friday evening.
Parramatta are outraged at why Cherry-Evans did not join Olakau’atu in the box for the first-half tackle when he was equally at fault.
Double sins for one incident are extremely rare in the NRL.
Referee Ashley Klein did not send off Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans, but did send off Haumole Olakau’atu
Olakau’atu’s absence allowed Parramatta to put some early pressure on the Sea Eagles before the home side rallied to run over the top of the Eels.
But referee Gerard Sutton could be heard indicating to Cherry-Evans that his involvement was a mitigating factor that saved Olakau’atu from being sent off.
Parramatta also claim Tom Trbojevic was offside during a second-half chase, which led to Eels center Will Penisini being sinned for a professional foul.
The Eels believe they should have been awarded a penalty instead and gone on the attack in the second half with all thirteen men on the pitch trailing 18-14.
And then the Eels are puzzled as to why Ethan Sanders was denied a try in the second half after a double knock-on was called against the Eels.
Parramatta successfully challenged that they had not knocked during the game, but a mutual infringement of the referee’s whistle prevented Sanders from scoring the try.
The Eels’ loss left them 14th on the ladder heading into next week’s farewell match and increased pressure on coach Brad Arthur after a 3-5 start to the season.
Manly are also now in trouble given the bans their dynamite funnel side of Cherry-Evans and Olakau’atu are facing.
If DCE pleads guilty or chooses to fight the charges and loses, it will be the first time in his 14-year career that he has been suspended
Cherry-Evans’ first suspension of his fourteen-year career would likely leave Jake Arthur in the second half against Canberra and the Dolphins.
Olakau’atu’s absence will also be felt, with fellow second-rower Ben Trbojevic also sidelined for the next two weeks with a hamstring injury.
Karl Lawton and Ethan Bullemore are options to start in the Tongan international’s place, while Brad Parker is another alternative after moving from the middle to the second row this year.
After the match, Cherry-Evans had hoped his role in the tackle would save Olakau’atu from a ban.
“I definitely played a role in the tackle,” Cherry-Evans said on Friday evening.
“It just compensated for what happened during the tackle. Ten minutes in jail was probably fair.
“I would like to think that hopefully this is all and we can move on.”
For Parramatta, Maika Sivo and Ryan Matterson can both accept penalties for dangerous contact and a high tackle respectively.
Sivo was condemned for his dangerous contact with Reuben Garrick, while Matterson’s high strike on Luke Brooks in the first half went unpunished.