IT WAS controversial at the time - and almost 30 years later, the iconic image of Wests players slapping each other's faces is still having the same effect.

To promote Saturday night's match against Manly, Wests Tigers have invited the media to a training session today to witness a re-enactment of the infamous antics of the Roy Masters-coached side first revealed to the public on Channel Nine's 60 Minutes program in 1979.

Former Western Suburbs Magpies players Ray Brown, Don Mosely and Wayne Smith have agreed to attend, but coach Tim Sheens yesterday decided that none of the current squad would be involved.

The decision follows Monday night's disappointing loss to Parramatta, in which forwards Bryce Gibbs and Corey Payne were put on report and the latter suspended for one match for ripping his arm across the face of Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne.

Instead, the Tigers players will be shown highlights from The Fibros and The Silvertails - Paul Oliver's critically acclaimed documentary about the great Wests-Manly rivalry of the late 1970s that is due to screen on ABC television later this year.

"I know it's just a bit of fun and everyone loves that stuff, but it's probably not the sort of thing you want young players to start doing," Tigers assistant coach Royce Simmons said.

"A lot of our players are really keen on the history of the game and they love talking to Noel Kelly about what scrums were like when he played and the fights, and they're always fascinated to hear how many times he got sent off.

"Tim really encourages that … but today's game isn't about that, so it's probably not appropriate."

Masters, who nicknamed Manly the "Silvertails" because of their big-money raids on rival clubs that eventually led to Brown and fellow Wests internationals Les Boyd and John Dorahy defecting to the Sea Eagles, was also invited to attend, but he is in Beijing covering the Olympics for the Herald.

The idea of having the likes of Gibbs and Robbie Farah recreate the scenes of Tommy Raudonikis and Graeme O'Grady engaging in face-slapping before a match in 1979 was the latest initiative of the proactive Tigers marketing department.

Manly officials were bemused to learn of the proposal when contacted yesterday but said they did not mind how the Tigers promoted their games.

"As long as they're not slapping Manly players, I'm happy for them to do whatever they like," Sea Eagles chief executive Grant Mayer said.

Meanwhile, Canberra forward Tom Learoyd-Lahrs will seek to have a dangerous-throw charge downgraded at tonight's judiciary. If unsuccessful in contesting the grade-four offence, he will receive a seven-match suspension.

Canberra officials believe his tackle on Newcastle's Ben Cross last weekend was similar to a grade-two tackle committed by Tigers prop Todd Payten the week before.

If Learoyd-Lahrs's offence is downgraded to grade three, he would miss just three matches.

In team news, the Broncos welcome back Justin Hodges and fellow internationals Karmichael Hunt, Tonie Carroll and Greg Eastwood for Friday night's match against Gold Coast.

The Roosters will have Nate Myles, Craig Fitzgibbon and Setaimata Sa back for their clash with the Sharks.

Dragons backrower Ben Creagh and five-eighth Jamie Soward return from injury for their clash with the Warriors.