Manly seek exemption to play Koula after Origin knock

Jasper Bruce |

Tolu Koula left the field after being flattened in State of Origin game one.
Tolu Koula left the field after being flattened in State of Origin game one.

Manly have begun an audacious push for an exemption to play Tolu Koula in the NRL’s round 14 after the centre suffered a head knock in the illegal tackle that defined State of Origin I.

Koula lay sprawled on the ground following a shoulder charge from Kalyn Ponga that led the Queensland fullback to be dramatically banished from the field in NSW’s win.

NSW debutant Koula initially reported category-two symptoms before failing a head injury assessment in the sheds after leaving the field.

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Turning point: Kalyn Ponga was sent off for his dangerous tackle on Tolu Koula. (Mark Evans/AAP PHOTOS)

That meant he was set to miss NRL clashes against Cronulla and South Sydney, both of which fell inside the 11-day stand-down period mandated for any player who fails a HIA.

The Sea Eagles had always planned to rest Koula from last Friday’s loss to Cronulla, which was played only 48 hours after his Origin debut.

But Koula has been symptom-free since returning to Manly headquarters on Thursday morning, buoying the Sea Eagles in their push for an exemption.

He took part in non-contact training on Monday at Manly’s first session since Friday’s loss.

Koua
Tolu Koula had played well and was able to celebrate the win with Nathan Cleary post-match. (Dan Himbrechts/AAP PHOTOS)

A club spokesperson confirmed to AAP that the Sea Eagles had filed paperwork to request an exemption to play Koula against Souths on Thursday.

The fact the game will be played more than seven days after Koula’s head knock could strengthen the Sea Eagles’ case.

Koula is expected to feature somewhere on the Sea Eagles’ round-14 team sheet on Tuesday afternoon in case approval is granted.

But the Sea Eagles may not receive news about the exemption until the day before the game at Brookvale Oval.

Facing the Rabbitohs appears crucial for Koula, who otherwise will not have the chance to play again before teams are picked for State of Origin II.

Blues coach Laurie Daley previously indicated he would keep the faith with Koula for game two, rather than promote his mid-game replacement Casey McLean to the starting side.

But McLean is building an irresistible case for a starting berth, having scored two tries for Penrith in Sunday’s win over premiership hopefuls the Warriors.

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Casey McLean boosted his Origin starting claims with his two-try effort at the weekend. (Dean Lewins/AAP PHOTOS)

Sea Eagles teammate Jason Saab was hopeful Koula would get another chance after his Origin debut was curtailed.

“Obviously I’m going to sound biased here … (but) I feel like it was kind of taken away from him, coming off,” he said.

“He was playing really, really well up until that injury, he was doing his job.

“It’s just disappointing, he worked so hard to make that team and definitely deserved to see that whole game out. But footy happens.”

AAP