‘Spat at my face’: Manly, Tigers rivals tunnel standoff an hour after full-time

An alleged ugly on-field act has been revealed as the spark behind heated scenes more than an hour after full-time was blown.

Josh Aloiai of the Sea Eagles scuffles with John Bateman of the Wests Tigers. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

The heated tunnel standoff between Manly’s Josh Aloiai and Wests Tigers’ Brandon Wakeham

has reportedly been sparked by allegations a Sea Eagles player spat in the face of the Tigers star.

Aloiai and Wakeham were involved in a heated argument more than an hour after the Sea Eagles’ win on Sunday.

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

The star forward reportedly approached Wakeham after the five-eighth had finished an interview in the player’s tunnel at Campbelltown Sports Stadium.

The Daily Telegraph has revealed the pair exchanged heated words on the field during the match — and the situation continued off the field.

According to Nine papers, the conversation off the field threatened to boil over with Aloiai at one point telling his rival to “come around the corner” if he wanted to “talk s**t”.

Aloiai had to be restrained by his teammates and taken back to the shed before Wakeham entered the Sea Eagles sheds to confront the Manly back rower.

Aloiai reportedly took exception to Wakeham’s conduct on the field, where he appeared to taunt Manly debutant Sameula Fainu after Tigers centre Starford To’a crossed for a 64th minute try.

That incident sparked an on-field melee where Fainu’s jersey was removed.

Josh Aloiai was in a mood. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

But the Sydney Morning Herald has reported Wakeham had alleged Manly debutant Samuela Fainu had spat his his face during the match.

The report surrounds match-day audio where Wakeham had reportedly told referee Todd Smith about the incident.

“He spat in my face,” Wakeham told the referee in the 65th minute after To’a scored.

Smith replied: “OK then, do you want to make a complaint about that?”

Wakeham refused to escalate the matter.

Samuela is one of four brothers who all attended Westfields Sports High, along with Wakeham.

Interestingly Sione Fainu is a member of the Wests Tigers squad and plays alongside Wakeham.

John Bateman and Josh Aloiai got into it on the field. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

It was far from the worst moment for Manly.

The biggest blow came when superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic limped off the field with 10 minutes to go in the hands of a trainer and looked extremely dejected.

Just as concerning was the sight of Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu chasing down Trbojevic in the first half, forcing him to pass the ball to Daly Cherry-Evans for an easy try.