NRL judiciary: Manly prop Josh Aloiai charged with tripping Penrith fullback Daine Laurie

Manly prop Josh Aloiai is facing three weeks on the sideline after a brain snap in the dying minutes of the Sea Eagles’ round 14 loss to the Panthers. Watch the footage.

Manly Sea Eagles prop Josh Aloiai’s alleged trip on Penrith Panthers fullback Daine Laurie in the final minutes of their Round 14 clash at BlueBet Stadium.

It is among the most bizarre suspensions this year and could trash Manly’s finals hopes.

The Sea Eagles are preparing to lose forward leader Josh Aloiai for two games over a tripping brain snap which will test and damage the club’s playing depth through State of Origin.

And Aloiai’s indiscretion comes as Manly teammate Nathan Brown was charged for a hair pull.

Aloiai was charged with grade two dangerous contact when he deliberately tripped Penrith’s Daine Laurie in Sunday’s game at BlueBet Stadium.

In a hefty punishment from the NRL match review committee, Aloiai is facing a two to three game suspension.

The incident occurred in the 75th minute after Panthers centre Izack Tago had broken away from Manly’s left edge defence.

Laurie was cutting through the middle of the field to support Tago when inexplicably tripped behind play by Aloiai.

Manly had four defenders around Tago and a try seemed unlikely, making Aloiai’s decision even stranger.

The Sea Eagles will review the incident on Tuesday but are likely to plead guilty.

It means Aloiai would miss Manly’s game against St George Illawarra at 4 Pines Stadium this Sunday and a vital round 16 game against Souths at Accor Stadium.

The Rabbitohs match will already be difficult for Manly given the club is likely to be without State of Origin players Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Trbojevic and Haumole Olakau’atu.

NRL: Josh Aloiai in hot water

Souths belted Gold Coast on Saturday and have now recorded successive wins.

Losing Aloiai for the Rabbitohs game through suspension will sting the Brookvale-based club.

Forwards Ethan Bullemor and Aaron Woods will be among the replacement contenders for Aloiai. Prop Matt Lodge isn’t due back from injury until round 24.

The NRL has consistently warned clubs and players that television cameras will always capture any incidents behind play.

Brown was charged with contrary conduct for pulling the hair of Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai.

He was penalised on-field, placed on report and is facing a fine of either $1800 or $2500 depending on his plea.

It has ignited the argument over whether players should be punished for hair-pulling when the opposition has long hair, as Luai does.

The match review committee has to determine whether the hair pull was avoidable, or unavoidable.

Elsewhere, Melbourne’s Eliesa Katoa (dangerous contact) and Newcastle’s Kai Pearce-Paul (dangerous throw) have escaped with fines for minor indiscretions.

Manly is now $29 to win the premiership, according to TAB, and $1.75 to make the top eight.