NRL: Vatuvei hit ruled legal

Manu Vatuvei of the Warriors sits injured on the field. Photo / Getty Images

Saturday night at Eden Park wasn't the first time Eels wing Etu Uaisele has tried his Beast-busting tackling technique on Manu Vatuvei.

Uaisele's head-first dive at Vatuvei's right knee hobbled the key Warriors winger in the 14th minute of the Eels' 24-18 win, with scans on Monday confirming medial ligament damage that will sideline him for up to eight weeks.

How Uaisele avoided serious injury himself is a mystery, particularly given the way another attempt to stop Vatuvei ended during a trial match in Rotorua in February.

"It was the same thing as the last time I played him in the trials," Uaisele told Sydney's Sunday Telegraph. "I did the same thing - and got knocked out."

A Warriors official described the tackle in Rotorua as more front-on, with Vatuvei's knee again collecting Uaisele in the head.

NRL match review committee chairman Greg McCallum had reviewed Saturday night's tackle and found it to be legal. However McCallum was unaware of the incident in Rotorua. As he hadn't seen any footage of it he was unable to form a view on it.

"We are vigilant in looking at all types of tackles and in the opinion of the match review committee there is no concern with [Saturday's] tackle, McCallum said.

"The Eels player in question attempts to make a legitimate tackle around the legs. Both of his arms are in a position to indicate that that is his intention. Irrespective of whether his shoulder or head makes contact first, there is no form of misconduct in that tackle."

His questionable technique has twice resulted in injuries but Uaisele seems unlikely to change his approach.

"He's pretty big, I had to throw everything I had," he said. "I said to the boys 'I've just got to throw my body in front of him, whatever happens'."

The Warriors aren't the only side to have suffered an injury to a key player in round one. Bulldogs centre Josh Morris suffered a suspected medial ligament tear in Monday night's victory over Wests Tigers, an injury that will sideline him for at least a month if confirmed.

The Raiders will be without veteran hooker Alan Tongue for an extended period. Tongue, who has been plagued by injuries in recent seasons, damaged the AC joint in his shoulder in the opening minutes of his side's victory over Cronulla.

New Knights recruit Neville Costigan broke his arm in the victory over the Eels, while hooker Isaac De Gois broke his thumb and fellow Origin player Kurt Gidley suffered a back injury in the same match.

Manly co-captain Jamie Lyon is also set for a two-to-four week spell on the sidelines after damaging a hamstring in an 18-6 defeat to the Storm. Lyon's co-captain Jason King could also be missing for Sunday's match against the Roosters after being charged with a grade-one dangerous contact charge.