NRL: Sea Eagles lose two to judiciary

Sam Burgess of the Rabbitohs reacts after his brother and team mate, George Burgess was tackled high by Steve Matai. Photo / Getty Images

Manly will be without prop Richie Fa'aoso and centre Steve Matai for Monday's NRL clash with St George Illawarra after both accepted early guilty pleas yesterday.

Matai was charged with a grade one careless high tackle on South Sydney's George Burgess in Friday night's loss at Brookvale Oval, and will miss just one game.

Fa'aoso has been hit with a ban of eight games stemming from dangerous throws on Greg Inglis, leaving him unavailable until the round 18 clash with North Queensland.

Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart also accepted the early plea for his grade one dangerous contact charge for an apparent elbow on Rabbitoh Andrew Everingham, and is free to face the Dragons.

An exasperated Manly coach Geoff Toovey yesterday explained why he felt hamstrung by the judiciary process, admitting he had not spoken to referees boss Daniel Anderson about the fallout from Friday's spiteful clash at Brookvale Oval.

"As I said, it's just a waste of time. Why bother," Toovey said.

Fighting Matai's low grade charge was too fraught with danger as the burden of proof was on the Sea Eagles to prove there was no contact with the head or neck, leaving them at the mercy of what the camera angles can pick up, he said.

"The bloke who he tackles [Burgess] jumps up and gets into the barney just after it so ... come on, please."

- AAP