The Late Mail: Rabbitohs v Bulldogs
86 mins ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
Former New Zealand rugby league international Tasesa Lavea will be disciplined by Northern Eagles management after trading blows with teammate Alex Moore last week.
Lavea, a member of the New Zealand World Cup squad in 2000, split his hand open in the fight with Moore after a friendly wrestle outside a Manly nightspot turned ugly. He has stitches in the wound.
Police had to break the two up, but are not expected to lay charges.
Northern Eagles chief executive Ian Thomson said action would be taken by the club against both players.
"It is quite uncharacteristic for both players to be involved in anything like this because they are two of the quietest blokes at the club," Thomson said.
"But the fact is it was an incident that has sullied the name of the Manly club and we will be taking action on both players."
The Northern Eagles board will decide this week what punishment should be meted out.
Thomson told the League Correspondent that both players had apologised to the rest of the squad last Friday.
Neither player is in the Sea Eagles' top side.
Lavea was the National Rugby League rookie-of-the-year in 1999 when a standoff for the Melbourne Storm, but transferred to the Eagles after getting few chances with the Storm in 2000.
He has an offer from English club Widnes and may seek a release from Manly to take it up.