DCE deserved ‘discount’ for 14-year clean record, say teammates

Star Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic said the NRL should explore a system that rewarded clean skins such as Cherry-Evans.

“Daly has played over 300 games, but if someone plays one game and commits the same offence, they serve the same amount of time out of the game,” Trbojevic told this masthead. “You’d like to think there has to be a discount.

“They can’t do it now, which is fine, but hopefully at the end of the year they can look at something like this.”

Jake Trbojevic, who will take over as Manly captain if Cherry-Evans fails at the judiciary, said: “We risk losing the most experienced player this club has had, and we’ve lost the most in-form player this club has at the moment.

“I didn’t think there was much in the tackle. I’ve seen worse let go. It’s tough because those guys play right next to each other.

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“If ‘Chez’ is suspended, it will give the chance to someone else. I’m looking forward to someone like Jake Arthur coming in, he’s a great young kid who works really hard and is just a good guy.”

Olakau’atu was sin-binned for the tackle on Lane, who was not injured and able to return after a head injury assessment and finish the game. The Eels asked why Cherry-Evans was also not sent to the bin and the Sea Eagles reduced to 11 men.

Meanwhile, NRL head of elite competitions Graham Annesley confirmed Tom Trbojevic was offside, chasing after a Luke Brooks kick, when Parramatta’s Will Penisini tackled him without the ball and was sin-binned. Rather than be reduced to 12 men, the Eels should have received a penalty at the other end of the field.

Annesley also confirmed the bunker had got it right when denied Wests Tigers captain Api Koroisau a try after he failed to regrip the ball on Saturday night.

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