Rugby league has been struck by controversy both on and off the field following incidents this weekend involving Manly bad boy John Hopoate and Sydney Roosters forward Michael Crocker.

Hopoate's career is in the balance in the wake of an ugly high shot on Cronulla forward Keith Galloway which marred his team's gallant 46-20 NRL victory over the Sharks at Brookvale Oval.

And the Roosters will launch an investigation into a brawl outside a Coogee hotel which resulted in injured forward Michael Crocker and three other men being capsicum sprayed and charged by police.

The Sharks were left privately fuming over Hopoate's leaping tackle on 19-year-old Galloway who was carried from the field in a neck brace with blood coming from a cut to his ear.

"Keith Galloway is a very sick boy in there. Those things were eradicated out of the game 20 years ago," said Cronulla coach Stuart Raper.

"The judiciary will handle it. It didn't look great.

"It's hard for a young kid coming through when something like that happens to him."

The NRL match review committee is likely to refer the matter directly to the judiciary, with Hopoate facing a possible lengthy suspension.

A groggy Galloway had a convulsion on the field and later had stitches inserted in his ear before being taken home by his parents.

"Keith's health speaks for itself. He's not well," said Raper.

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