Tom Trbojevic injured as Manly Sea Eagles beat Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers secure NRL top four spot
A late injury to Tom Trbojevic has threatened to put a dampener on what had been a superb night for the Sea Eagles, who put on a clinic in front of 35,502 supporters to beat Canterbury-Bankstown 34-22.
Trojevic left the field at the Sydney Olympic stadium late in the match, covered in blood from a head wound, but nursing his right shoulder.
Manly confirmed an AC joint injury, but coach Anthony Seibold said he hoped the fullback would be fit to play week one of the finals.
“He will definitely miss next week from what I understand. He will get an x-ray or scan,” Seibold said.
“We’ll put a plan together for him and make sure we look after him.
“The good thing is those injuries aren’t season ending. There is some pain there, and he will be a bit sore and sorry for the next few weeks.
But he will be right to go for week one.”
The same cannot be said for Jason Saab, who left the field earlier in the contest with a high ankle sprain that could rule him out for the rest of the season.
That news came after Manly had put on an attacking clinic to tear apart the Bulldogs stingy defence in front of a record Friday night, 6pm crowd at the Olympic stadium to keep their chances of a home final alive, scoring six tries to four.
The Bulldogs got off to a superb start when Reed Mahoney scored before the Sea Eagles even touched the ball in the second minute, and he scored another in the closing seconds of the game.
But between those scores Manly ran rampant, with tries to Saab, Tom Trbojevic, Karl Lawton, Reuben Garrick and a Lehi Hopoate double contributing to Canterbury’s heaviest defeat of the season.
“That’s the first time this year I have walked off really disappointed in our defence,” Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said.
The defeat leaves Canterbury’s top-four hopes in tatters, with victory over the Cowboys next weekend a must if they want to secure a home final.
Manly can also sneak in to secure a home final if they beat the Sharks at Brookvale next Sunday.
In the late match, Penrith pummelled South Sydney to record a comfortable 34-12 victory and wrap up a top four spot.
The Panthers were far from their vintage best, but still ran in six tries to the Rabbitohs’ two.
Both of Souths’ tries were scored by teenage winger Tyrone Munro, who was playing despite his mother having passed away during the week and his uncle that morning.
James Fisher-Harris, Luke Garner and Brad Schneider had all scored before that though and, when Sunia Turuva scored a quick-fire double just after half-time, the result was all but certain.
Isaah Yeo finished the scoring for the hosts just after Keaon Koloamatangi was sent to the sin bin.
