Manly forward Haumole Olakau’atu is at risk of copping a suspension for a dangerous tackle on Parramatta’s Shaun Lane during Friday evening’s NRL game at Brookvale Oval.
In the fourth minute of the Round 8 contest, the 25-year-old was put on report for his involvement in a lifting tackle on Lane, who landed on the turf near his neck.
The Eels second-rower was in immediate discomfort, grabbing at the back of his back and consulting a team doctor for several minutes. Groans echoed around the venue when replays of the incident were shown on the big screens, with Lane substituted off the field.
“Throwing motion here from Olakau’atu,” Fox League commentator Warren Smith said.
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“He came down on the shoulder there, did Shaun Lane.
“It’s all the work of Olakau’atu, who takes Lane to ground in very ungainly fashion.”
Four-time premiership winner Cooper Cronk continued: “It’s heavy contact too when he hits the ground.
“There’s concern here for Lane.
“The contact to the ground was definitely on the top of the shoulder, back of the neck.”
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After match officials consulted replays, Olakau’atu was put on report and sin-binned to leave the Sea Eagles with 12 men for the following ten minutes.
“There’s a fair bit of force in it,” referee Gerard Sutton was overheard telling Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans, who also played a role in the lifting tackle.
“It’s a dangerous tackle mate.”
Eels captain Clinton Gutherson booted the subsequent penalty kick to give Parramatta an early 2-0 lead.
Tags: Manly Sea Eagles Parramatta Eels score Haumole Olakauatu dangerous tackle Shaun Lane video highlights
