Manly forward Josh Aloiai has been slapped with a two-game ban for tripping Daine Laurie during the Sea Eagles’ 32-22 defeat to the Penrith Panthers.
The incident occurred late in the second half of the contest when Penrith’s Izack Tago made a break on the right side of the field.
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As Laurie rushed forward to support Tago, Aloiai stuck out his right foot and tripped the Panthers man which subsequently sent him to the ground.
Luckily for Aloiai, the incident was missed by the officials during the game.
However, the Manly star has since been slapped with a two-match ban should he take the early guilty plea.
If Aloiai elects to appeal the verdict, he faces a three-game ban if found guilty by the judiciary panel.
Aloiai was the only player to be hit with a ban from the game as his Manly teammate Nathan Brown was only hit with a $1800 fine for contrary conduct on Jarome Luai in the 46th minute.
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It was a game needled with plenty of spice but the biggest flashpoint of the contest occurred when Manly’s Luke Brooks engaged in a shoving contest with Luai.
Brooks was furious with Luai after the Panthers star tackled Ben Trbojevic, but while the two pushed one another Penrith ended up scoring a try.
Speaking after the game, Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold believed something had to have happened in the tackle for Brooks to become enraged.
“Brooks is not a renowned scrapper, so obviously something happened,” Seibold said.
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans agreed: “He was just sticking up for his teammates, I like what he did there. I don’t think he gave away a try, I think there was something there.”