Manly Sea Eagles edge Haumole Olakau’atu has been controversially sin binned for a high shot on Tigers fullback Heath Mason during their Round 25 clash.
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.
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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.
Ethan Bullemor and Corey Waddell were also sin binned during the game.
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