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.
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.
