‘Not fair’: Manly’s sad update on Turbo injury as ‘comical’ training mishap with brother revealed

Sea Eagles superstar Tom Trbojevic has suffered a suspected MCL injury that could keep him sidelined for over a month according to coach Anthony Sebiold.

Trbojevic was returning after missing last week’s win over Canberra due to hamstring tightness and he started the game his right knee was heavily strapped.

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Midway through the first half he had his left knee strapped up behind the posts too as Manly fans held their collective breath.

The gun fullback was clearly hampered and told club doctors he “heard a pop” in his left knee during the opening 40 minutes against the Eels on Sunday. The 28-year-old didn’t return for the second half.

Seibold said after the game that the injury was most likely an MCL strain and would sideline Trbojevic for five-to-six weeks.

“So, he obviously needs scans, but it looks like it’s an MCL, which, again, we’ll get scans tomorrow,” Seibold said.

“Normally those types of injuries are around about five or six weeks. But again, I don’t want to pre-empt anything and put a timeline on it because we need to make sure that we get it diagnosed and the doctor and our physios understand that’s exactly what it is, and then we’ll come up with a plan.

“But obviously he’s very disappointed and I mean, we were disappointed to lose him at halftime.”

Trbojevic was in his first game back after missing a week due to right hamstring tightness and when he made his way onto the field to start the game his right knee was heavily strapped.

In reference to his strapped right knee, Trbojevic told Channel Nine’s Andrew Johns before the game that “something happened” on Saturday but it “feels alright”.

“I just knocked it – it’s a funny story, I’ll tell you later,” he added.

Seibold later clarified in his post-game press conference that Trbojevic had collided with brother Ben on Saturday, with Daly Cherry-Evans describing it as a “funny” moment.

“It’s not comical but it was… they both ended up ont he floor, Benny was being fed abuse for knocking over our fullback,” Seibold added.

Midway through the first half Trbojevic went down for treatment on his left knee that was then in turn strapped for the MCL injury.

The veteran number one hobbled on, able to find some speed when he backed up a mid-field break by Ethan Bullemor but as soon as he tried to change direction it was clear Trbojevic knew things were not going to get better.

He battled through the next ten minutes before failing to return after the break.

Seibold said it was tough to see Trbojevic suffer yet another injury.

“This is my third year coaching him now, and just his preparation is so diligent, and I think anyone who knows Turbo, he puts in so much time.

“So, in some ways, like, life’s not fair, because you can understand if he wasn’t doing the work and doing all this reconditioning, his injury prevention and so on.

“So unfortunately, today was tough, a tough day for him and we’re disappointed to lose him there.”

Trbojevic finished the half with three runs for nine metres, one linebreak assist and a try assist.

Trbojevic has a history of leg injuries but the 2021 Dally M Medal winner was able to play 20 games last season, his most since 2018.

Lehi Hopoate moved to fullback to cover for his injured teammate in the second half, with the switch also seeing Trbojevic’s younger brother Ben shifting from the left edge to right centre and Reuben Garrick moving from that position to cover Hopoate’s left wing.

Manly have Clayton Faulalo waiting in the wings to come into the side next week after the impressive outside back covered for Trbojevic in round three.

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