Sea Eagles hard-man Josh Aloiai handed longest penalty for tripping in almost four years after loss to Penrith

Manly’s Josh Aloiai is facing the NRL’s longest ban for a tripping charge in almost four years, with the front-rower set to cop a two-game suspension for contact on Daine Laurie.

Aloiai was on Monday handed a grade-two dangerous contact charge after replays showed him sticking his leg out and tripping the Penrith fullback on Sunday.

Laurie was not in possession of the ball at the time and was only running in support after an Izack Tago break late in the Panthers’ 32-22 win.

Aloiai can take a two-match ban with an early guilty plea, or risk extending the suspension to three matches if he challenges the charge unsuccessfully.

The Manly front-rower is only the second player to face a ban for tripping in the past three seasons, with Isaiah Papali’i also suspended for one game earlier this year.

But Aloiai’s bad judiciary record means he is facing a longer ban and the harshest punishment for a trip since Jackson Ford in August 2020.

Aloiai will miss matches against St George Illawarra and South Sydney with an early plea, marking his second suspension of the year.

Fellow Sea Eagles prop Nathan Brown was also charged by the match review committee on Monday for a hair pull on Jarome Luai.

But he will be able to escape with an $1800 fine if he pleads guilty.

Melbourne second-rower Eliesa Katoa and Newcastle counterpart Kai Pearce-Paul were the other players charged from Sunday’s matches, with both able to take fines.