29 Aug 2011

Manly and Melbourne given hefty fines after brawl

6:49 pm on 29 August 2011

The National Rugby League clubs Manly and Melbourne have been fined $50,000 each over Friday night's brawl at Brookvale Oval.

The NRL has handed down the fines as a total of 10 players - five from each club - were charged by the match review committee over the first half incident during the Sea Eagles' 18-4 win.

The chief combatants, Manly's Glenn Stewart and Melbourne and Kiwis international Adam Blair, who began fighting by the sideline after being sent to the sin bin, had contrary conduct charges for fighting referred straight to the NRL judiciary.

Blair also faces a second charge of striking which will earn him two weeks on the sidelines regardless of whether he enters an early guilty plea.

The other eight players face either detrimental or contrary conduct charges.

Manly prop Darcy Lussick faces a four-week ban for his grade four contrary conduct charge, while team-mate Brett Stewart will miss 1-2 weeks after a grade-three contrary conduct charge.