Matai to miss two weeks

Manly’s Steve Matai has been hit with a two week ban for his high shot on Penrith forward Danny Galea.

Matai took the early guilty plea and was charged with a grade four careless high tackle for the swinging arm that knocked out former Canberra forward Galea in Sunday’s match at Centrebet Stadium.

Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey admitted he wasn’t happy with the high grading, but said the coub wouldn’t fight the charge.

“We’ve taken advice and Steve’s decided to accept the charges,” he told the club’s official website.

“It’s too fraught with danger, we think, to go and challenge it.

“The system’s not perfect and we feel it’s best if we just take the early plea.”

Toovey also took at swing at the NRL‘s match review committee.

“It’s frustrating,” he said.

“That’s his style of play, aggressive, and unfortunately the system’s weighed against those people who are aggressive in our game.

“It’s always going to be hard because it’s such a subjective matter but I still think there could be a better system out there for us.”

Matai is expected to be replaced by Dean Whare for Friday’s match with St George.