LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The NRL has finally settled the debate over Haumole Olakau'atu's sin-binning after uproar from fans following Manly's loss to Wests Tigers on Thursday night.
The match review committee has decided to only fine the second-rower for his controversial hit on Tigers fullback Heath Mason.
Fans were left fuming when Olakau'atu was marched for 10 minutes, but it seems the NRL agrees with the decision to only issue a fine.
Referee Peter Gough and the Bunker believed Olakau'atu made contact with Mason's head, but some experts like Cooper Cronk argued that it was a shoulder-to-shoulder hit.
Cronk, commentating for Fox League, stated, "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 and forceful, but I'm not sure if this makes contact directly to the head.
I think that's shoulder on shoulder."
Warren Smith also chimed in, saying there was "nothing wrong with the contact as far as the attempt to make a wrapping tackle." However, the Bunker's decision ultimately led to Olakau'atu being sin-binned.
In the end, the NRL has made its call and Olakau'atu has been fined for the incident.