Spitting allegation at centre of Josh Aloiai, Brandon Wakeham's heated post-match exchange.
Brandon Wakeham reportedly telling referee Todd Smith that Sea Eagles debutant Samuela Fainu "spat at my face".
The referee can then be heard asking Wakeham if he'd like to make an official complaint and the Tigers half declines, the report states.
That flashpoint, in the 65th minute of the game, preceded a fiery post-match clash between Manly prop Josh Aloiai and Wakeham, with Aloiai confronting Wakeham in the tunnel.
The ugly altercation during which Aloiai reportedly invited Wakeham to "come around the corner" if he wanted to "talk shxx" occurred after the Sea Eagles emerged with a scrappy 22-16 win, which got nasty when the Tigers snatched a second half lead, with Manly players taking issue with Wakeham's try celebration, in which he taunted Fainu.
That try was scored in the 63rd minute, meaning it was just two minutes before the spitting allegation was made.
After the match Aloiai had to be dragged into Manly's dressing room by his teammates as he and Wakeham's post-match altercation threatened to get out of control.
Wakeham was then ordered out of the Sea Eagles' dressing room after following Aloiai in.
Neither Wakeham, Aloiai or Fainu were cited by the match review committee when the charge sheet was released on Monday.
Adding to the juicy subplot, the Herald reports that Fainu, as well as his three brothers, went to Westfield Sports High - the same school Wakeham attended.
One of Fainu's brothers, Sione, left Manly to join the Tigers midway through last year and has played alongside Wakeham this season.
This has been thrashed out on NRL360 and several social media sites and a lot of the blame has been directed at Wakeham for as they say "what happens on the field stays on the field"
I don't know about this one. It sounds a bit like your damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Isn't going to to ref and saying "joe blo spat in my face, can you say something to him and keep an eye out for this" and then by not making an official complaint, is this not keeping things on the field?🤔 Can an unofficial complaint be made to a ref?
It seems like Wakeham's frustration for being called out by a bigger man, basically calling him the lowlife and not the spitter got to him. What's he supposed to do to save face. I say good on him for standing up for himself.
This idea of making an official complaint seems for something unforgiveable like a blatant squirrel grip and eye gouging but what about spitting, casual taunts of racial, gay slurs etc, there are grey areas that can snap a player.
Sledging is, unfortunately, a part of the game but can overstep the mark.
Whatever a player does right or wrong, if there is a story in it those idiots on NRL360 will jump on it.
