AAP Rugby

Naden, Sipley face NRL bans, Olakau'atu breathes easy

By AAP Newswire

Apr 30, 2023

Manly Sea Eagles NRL player Haumole Olakau'atu. — Haumole Olakau'atu (pictured) has escaped a ban after Manly's Saturday night loss to Gold Coast. -AAP Image

Wests Tigers centre Brent Naden and Manly prop Toff Sipley have been hit hard by the NRL's match review committee, with each player facing a ban of up to four-matches.

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Naden was hit with a grade-two shoulder charge for his hit on Penrith second-rower Zac Hosking in his side's upset 12-8 victory over the Panthers on Saturday night.

He will miss three matches with an early guilty plea, or four if he fights the charge and loses.

The same potential punishment also awaits Sipley.

The Manly forward, who was sent to the sin bin in the Sea Eagles' 26-10 defeat, was charged with a grade-two crusher tackle on Gold Coast's Phillip Sami.

There was better news for Sipley's Manly teammate Haumole Olakau'atu.

Olakau'atu avoided being charged for a head slam on Titans behemoth David Fifita, while he can accept a fine for a crusher tackle on Tino Fa'asuamaleaui.

Bans for those incidents would have had the potential to halt Olakau'atu's push to earn his first NSW State of Origin jersey.

Dolphins lock Ray Stone and Penrith hooker Soni Luke can also accept fines for incidents in Saturday's matches.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press