North Queensland centre Valentine Holmes and Queensland face a nervous wait after the Maroons stalwart was put on report for a hip-drop tackle in the 42-28 win over Wests Tigers.
A Queensland regular expected to be named on Monday in the side to play NSW in the State of Origin opener in Sydney, Holmes was sin-binned in the 37th minute in Townsville for his tackle on Tigers second-rower Isaiah Papali'i, who limped from the field with an ankle injury.
Holmes was accidentally landed on by Cowboys co-captain Tom Dearden while making the tackle, which may play in his favour.
"It wasn't a hip-drop. I am gobsmacked by the interference of the bunker in that situation," Cowboys coach Todd Payten said.
"I don't know what a rugby league player is supposed to do when they are going for a try and he lands on their legs … but it is not a hip-drop."
Payten said a tackle later in the contest by Tigers prop David Klemmer on Cowboys forward Kulikfefu Finefuiaki was a "textbook" hip-drop. Klemmer was put on report for the tackle but not sin-binned.
Holmes told ABC Sport he hoped the sin-bin was the worst punishment he would receive and he does not have a case to answer at the judiciary.
"He ran a really good line … and his momentum kinda swung me around," he said.
"Hopefully, the sin-binning tonight is as far as it goes."
Tigers coach Benji Marshall said Papali'i was in a bad way.
"He's not good. He's in a moon boot and on crutches," Marshall said.
"He will have scans and it is really unfortunate."
Meanwhile, Manly have held on for a 26-20 victory over the Melbourne Storm at Brookvale Oval.
Melbourne was uncharacteristically error-prone during the whole contest. The Storm had 11 errors but still threatened to steal the game with a late surge.
But the Sea Eagles defended their line for the final two minutes to grind out the win.
Debutant fullback Lehi Hopoate was exceptional for the Sea Eagles, defusing several high kicks from Melbourne half-back Jahrome Hughes.
— reporting with AAP
Catch up with all the action as it happened from the ABC Sport blog.
Another night of NRL action has finished.
North Queensland have back-to-back wins after defeating the Wests Tigers at home.
Manly have held on to beat the Melbourne Storm at Brookvale.
Valentine Holmes will be the major talking point out of this evening after his sin-binning for a hip-drop tackle on Tigers forward Isaiah Papali'i.
We will be back tomorrow for three big games of rugby league.
I hope you join me then.
Thanks Mick, that was almost a great game...
- Mike
Not sure who your team is Mike, but had a good game to enjoy.
Manly five-eighth Luke Brooks had a solid night for the Sea Eagles.
He tells John Gibbs on ABC Sport that it was not a perfect performance, but his team should be pleased with their goalline defence to see out the game.
"Coming up against a tough side like Melbourne, it's good to get the win," he says.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game … we did really well to hold on in the end."
Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans has joined John Gibbs on ABC Sport after a great win over the Melbourne Storm.
"That was a huge one for us Gibbsy … that's a big win for us," he says.
"We weren't perfect again defensively … but there's so much to be proud of.
"While it wasn't perfect, I feel like we played our most consistent game of the year."
Manly have done it.
They have held on to win.
What an exciting game of footy.
Manly are holding on.
It's desperate.
They give up a set restart. They give up another.
Manly's defence is outstanding.
We have less than 20 seconds to go.
Melbourne is in all sorts, they don't know who is supposed to have the ball.
Nick Meaney has the ball in the centre of the field, time is about to run out.
Grubber kick. MANLY PICK IT UP.
Bad dropped ball from Manly.
They are inviting Melbourne into their end.
They repel Melbourne, but concede a goalline drop-out.
They need to be strong in defence again.
Melbourne is rolling.
They are spreading the ball and look threatening.
Manly winger Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega has produced a brilliant tackle on Storm fullback Sualauvi Faalogo. He makes the next tackle as well.
It stops Melbourne in its tracks. Manly have four minutes to hold on.
Here we go.
Melbourne are back within six points.
Jahrome Hughes scores. He set the play up.
Harry Grant out of dummy half to Hughes, who throws the inside pass to Tyran Wishart, who gives it back Hughes and scores.
Nick Meaney coverts. Manly leads 26-20.
Makeshift Melbourne winger Grant Anderson has dropped a contested kick, straight into the hands of Manly five-eighth Luke Brooks who drops the ball over the line.
He has been taken high in the tackle.
PENALTY MANLY.
Reuben Garrick kicks the goal and Manly leads by 12 points over Melbourne.
Melbourne has made a grave error. They give up a set restart on the fifth tackle.
Ref Ashley Klein finds a ruck infringement.
Manly needs to make the Storm play and they do.
They go to the left, the Storm are short on defenders, and Tommy Talau scores.
Do they have enough to win?
There is a nervousness around Brookvale Oval.
Melbourne is starting to assert themselves but another error, this time a wayward flick pass from Eliesa Katoa goes over the touchline.
The Storm have committed eight errors by my count.
John Gibbs is on the sideline at Brookvale Oval for ABC Sport.
He has reported that Melbourne winger Will Warbrick has come off with a groin issue.
Grant Anderson has come on the field in place of Warbrick.
Melbourne off the kick-off are on the attack.
Harry Grant runs from the dummy half and is in space.
Grant passes to Jahrome Hughes, who is tripped up by Manly fullback Lehi Hopoate.
Penalty to Melbourne.
Nick Meaney has been instructed to kick the goal.
It is 18-14 in favour of Manly.
Nick Meaney has scored for the Melbourne Storm.
Melbourne got great field position after Manly booted the ball out on the full.
Melbourne play the ball on the left. The ball is with half-back Jahrome Hughes, who throws it out the back to fullback Sualauvi Faalogo.
Faalogo puts Meaney in a gaping hole to score.
Well done Manly Sea Eagles.
Melbourne tried to smash over the line, but they could not crack open the Manly line.
The Sea Eagles have repelled several attacking raids in the opening 13 minutes of this second half.
Melbourne drop the ball in a strong tackle on the goalline.
Manly winger Jason Saab made the tackle. The Brookvale fans are in raptures, cheering their side on.
Oh no.
Daly Cherry-Evans takes the kick-off and passes to Nathan Brown — who drops it cold.
Melbourne has a chance to strike back.
Manly get back-to-back sets of six at the Melbourne line — courtesy of an earlier penalty which the Sea Eagles into good field position.
The Sea Eagles are working the Melbourne defence over.
Finally, they find a hole. Daly Cheery-Evans runs at the line, and throws a short pass to Jake Trbojevic who is on his right shoulder.
Manly have an 18-6 lead.
Melbourne forward Shawn Blore (who passed his HIA by the way) has stayed down in a tackle.
He is favouring a leg.
No foul play says the ref.
And Manly hooker Karl Lawton has got into the face of Blore — who is still on the ground — and has given him a gob-full.
This is nasty. This is captivating.
Kick-off for the second half.
And we have pushing and shoving.
Everyone is involved.
That was spiteful.
AND MANLY HAVE BEEN PENALISED.
There was not much in it … but there was no need for the push and shove.
But Melbourne drop the ball two tackle later.
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