The luckless Tom Trbojevic has gone down with another hamstring injury as the Manly Sea Eagles sweat on the availability of their superstar fullback in the race to the finals.
Watch every game of every round of the NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Trbojevic went down midway through the first half of Manly’s game against the Gold Coast Titans and walked off the field before heading straight up the tunnel.
WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.
The Sea Eagles co-captain was visibly frustrated as he put his hands on his head in resignation, although in a positive update Matt Russell reported the early hope from Manly is that it is a low-grade hamstring strain for Trbojevic.
Crucially, the injury is to Trbojevic’s right hamstring and not the left one that saw him sidelined for an extended period earlier this year.
Still, it was a crushing setback for Trbojevic, who has dealt with hamstring injuries throughout his career.
“That’s devastating. You can see the frustration of Tom Trbojevic,” Michael Ennis said on Fox League.
“That’s gut-wrenching. It’s so sad.”
Speaking in the post-game press conference, brother Jake said it was “deflating” to see Tom forced off the field considering how hard he had worked to get healthy again.
“It is hard to see my brother go through those sort of things,” Jake said.
“I know how hard he works on his body and that sort of thing… it’s disappointing.”
Sea Eagles coach Kieran Foran didn’t have any update on Trbojevic after the game other than confirming he will go for scans.
“Hopefully it’s not as bad as the last one, but naturally he’s pretty disappointed,” Foran added.
Tino blows up over controversial try | 00:36
Trbojevic first suffered two separate hamstring injuries in 2019 before missing another 12 weeks in 2020 with another hamstring issue, only to then injure his shoulder in his comeback game against the Titans.
The Sea Eagles fullback then missed the start of the 2021 season after injuring his hamstring while slipping in the bathroom, and then suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Round 11 of the 2022 campaign.
Trbojevic’s injury woes continued in the 2023 pre-season when he suffered another serious hamstring setback, before going down with another hamstring injury in Round 10 of the 2024 season.
Trbojevic also missed an extended period last year with a knee injury.
Clayton Faulalo would be the logical replacement for Trbojevic but is still sidelined with his own hamstring injury.
“I don’t think he’s close in the next week or two so that won’t help us in the short-term,” Foran said.
“But hopefully we’ll look to get him back maybe after the bye or sometime after then.”