Manly forward Haumole Olakau'atu is sent to the sin bin for a 'dangerous' lifting tackle.

Haumole Olakau'atu of Manly might be suspended for a potentially harmful tackle on Shaun Lane of Parramatta during Friday's NRL game at Brookvale Oval.

Olakau'atu was placed on report early in Round 8 for his part in a lifting tackle that caused discomfort for Lane, who was then substituted. Replays of the incident played on the huge screens, drawing groans from everyone in the room.

"Throwing motion here from Olakau’atu," pundit Warren Smith said, emphasizing how hard the tackle was.

The pundit said, "Shaun Lane landed on the shoulder there."

Cooper Cronk, a four-time premiership champion, said, "It's all because of Olakau'atu's actions, taking Lane down in a very awkward manner."

"There is a noticeable impact as he hits the ground. Lane is clearly concerned," Cronk continued.

"The contact with the ground was clearly on the upper shoulder, back of the neck," Cronk said.

The Sea Eagles had 12 men for the next ten minutes after Olakau'atu was sin-binned and placed on report by match officials following their study of the replays.

Manly captain Daly Cherry-Evans, who was involved in the lifting tackle, was overheard by referee Gerard Sutton saying, "There's a fair bit of force in it." It's a risky tackle, buddy."

After the incident, Parramatta took an early 2-0 lead thanks to a penalty that Eels captain Clinton Gutherson successfully kicked.