Serial offender Steve Matai faces being rubbed out of next weekend's NRL grand final with any charge for his knees-first effort on Brisbane's Jharal Yow Yeh.
The Sea Eagles centre is staring at the possibility of missing the decider after he was placed on report for a 65th minute incident in Friday night's 26-14 win over Brisbane at the Sydney Football Stadium.
Matai appeared to collect Yow Yeh with his legs as the Broncos winger was attempting to score a try in the right corner.
Manly coach Des Hasler said the incident only warranted a penalty but the Kiwi international faces a nervous wait for the NRL match review committee to look at it on Monday.
The renowned hitman has a long rap sheet at the judiciary and points generated by that will conspire against him even if he only cops a grade one dangerous contact charge.
In that case his only hope would be to fight the charge and be exonerated at the NRL judiciary on Wednesday night.
According to rugby league statistician David Middleton, three "non-similar offences" over the past two seasons and carry-over points from a suspension for a round 16 high tackle on St George Illawarra winger Jason Nightingale will result in a one-match ban for Matai even if he takes an early guilty plea.
While Matai is in grave danger of joining the likes of Cameron Smith, Carl Webb and Luke Ricketson in missing grand finals, team-mate Tony Williams is likely to play at ANZ Stadium on Sunday week.
The bullocking backrower, who was near unstoppable against Brisbane, was booked for a high shot on Yow Yeh just two minutes before the luckless winger was collected by Matai.
Williams' good record means, even with a grade two charge, he could play with an early plea.
It's not all bad news for the Sea Eagles, with forwards Glenn Stewart and Darcy Lussick to return from bans for their parts in the ugly brawl with Melbourne players at Brookvale Oval four weeks ago.
"Getting them back's huge," Sea Eagles five-eighth Kieran Foran said.
"(Stewart's) probably been one of the best players in the comp all year so getting him back on that right edge definitely adds a lot to the side.
"Getting Darcy back too, he filled in there when Kingy (co-captain Jason King) got injured and he was doing a great job there.
"It will just be wonderful to get them back."
Foran had his own run-in with the whistleblowers on Friday night, referee Shane Hayne at one point saying he'd had a "gutful" of the classy half.
Asked if he needed to rein in his questioning of the officials, Foran said: "Probably. I don't say anything rude to them, I just question their decision sometimes.
"They were great out there tonight.
"They probably just get sick of me being in their ear trying to change their decision."
...No trouble for the BIG Bloke!!!;-)
