Author:
Andrew Jackson, Fox Sports Australia
The Daily Telegraph broke the news on Saturday afternoon, which comes after the superstar fullback injured his shoulder against the Parramatta Eels on Friday night.
“Breaking news in the Daily Telegraph, he has been ruled out for the rest of the season. It is huge breaking news. It is not good for Tom and Manly,” Fox League’s Braith Anasta said on Saturday afternoon.
“That’s devastating from Tom’s perspective, Manly and just football in general,” premiership-winning halfback Cooper Cronk said, reacting to the news on Fox League.
“The guy is an absolute star of the comp. What he has done when the Sea Eagles play, they go from an OK team to being a top-four team. That is shocking news.
“They are in trouble now Manly. In terms of fighting for a premiership, it is going to be very hard.”
The Sea Eagles put out a statement on Saturday confirming Trbojevic “underwent scans” and that the club “will now seek surgical opinions early next week”.
Manly coach Des Hasler had confirmed post-game on Friday that Trbojevic dislocated his shoulder.
Michael Ennis described it as a “killer blow” for the Sea Eagles and Blues in commentary for Fox League on Friday night.
“He was tremendous and he was really starting to warm, Tom,” Ennis said.
“His acceleration was back, he looked confident with his catch-and-pass and true to Tommy’s style he’s hurt his shoulder while (making) a desperation tackle to stop Parramatta scoring.
“It’s heartbreaking, not only for Manly but also Blues fans.
“It didn’t look great at all, his arm sitting in a sling. He’s so important to this Manly side and so important to the NSW side.
“Some of our champion players are brutally honest with themselves.
“Leading into this game tonight, Tom was really open about how disappointed he was with his own form and how he needed to pick that up.”
Ennis said that Trbojevic, who had already been struggling with a knee injury earlier in the season, was starting to move a lot more freely in promising signs for the fullback.
“He wasn’t grimacing and in that second half I felt like Tom was really starting to find his rhythm until we see these devastating pictures,” Ennis added.
“I mean it really is (devastating). Everyone that loves rugby league, loves what Tom does on the footy field. He’s a player that, whether you love Manly or hate them, you love what he brings. He’s a guy that brings people through the gates.
“Really tough scenes seeing Tommy leave the field like that tonight, he’s a super player.”
Reuben Garrick and Tolutau Koula are two options to replace Trbojevic for Manly at fullback while Ennis and fellow Fox League panellist Benji Marshall debated NSW’s options on Friday.
“(Stephen) Crichton has put his hand up, Kotoni Staggs and Jack Wighton could do a job there if needed,” Marshall said.
“It’s a tough one because Latrell Mitchell’s not going to be there at the moment, it is a bit early but maybe no Turbo.”
“You’d imagine that Liam Martin is going to be somewhere around the NSW side,” Ennis added.
“We know Nathan and Jarome are going to be there as halves providing they get through the next couple of weeks. Combinations are critical, Brian To’o was enormous last week... someone like Matt Burton, who one a premiership at left centre with those Penrith boys would fit in there no problems.
“There’s plenty of guys that would be capable but Tom’s blue chip... Tom dominates at that level.”
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