Trbojevic injures hamstring again as decimated Manly stun Raiders
Tom Trbojevic's immediate playing future is under a huge cloud after the superstar fullback aggravated a chronic hamstring problem as a decimated Manly stunned premiership heavyweights Canberra.
The 23-year-old, who played only two matches in the opening three months of last season due to hamstring injuries, limped from the field in the second half during the Sea Eagles' herculean 14-6 win at Campbelltown on Sunday.
Initial reports estimated Trbojevic would be facing six weeks on the sidelines.
Trbojevic's injury added to a bulging casualty ward for Des Hasler, who also lost Dylan Walker (ankle) and Brad Parker (concussion) inside the first four minutes on top of missing three regular starters.
But somehow the Sea Eagles, with only one player on the bench for the final half-hour, hung on for one of the club's best wins of the last decade, prompting Phil Gould to label it "as one of the best wins I've ever seen".
But Ricky Stuart will be asking serious questions of his grand finalists, who looked limp in attack and have to take on ladder leaders Parramatta next weekend.
Hasler will be desperate to check on the health of his talisman Trbojevic and five-eighth Walker, the former's history of hamstring problems sure to worry Manly medical staff.
On the same day as the winter solstice, Hasler would have been forgiven the sun might not rise at all on Monday morning after losing two players inside the first four minutes.
It's hard to remember a shorter time between kick-off and a team down to just 15 men.
Walker buckled under a tackle and limped off with a leg problem after just two minutes, Parker slipping on a routine carry a couple of sets later and falling into Sia Soliola's knee.
On top of that the Sea Eagles were already without the injured Martin Taupau, Moses Suli and Jorge Taufua.
Somehow, it didn't seem to matter.
Tom Trbojevic opened the scoring and then set up rookie winger Tevita Funa three minutes before half-time for an improbable 12-point buffer, aided by a limp Canberra attack.
The Raiders didn't take long to halve the margin in the second half, Elliott Whitehead bursting onto a neat Jack Wighton pass just minutes before Trbojevic hobbled off the field with a left hamstring injury.
Reuben Garrick's penalty goal padded Manly's lead past a converted try, and then the Sea Eagles clung on for dear life.
Jarrod Croker spectacularly leapt high into the air to catch a George Williams kick before briefly rolling the ball prior to grounding it, then Curtis Sironen dragged Jordan Rapana's boot into touch as a try beckoned.
So dire was the state of Manly's bench and how little interchanges they had used, Hasler had four up his sleeve well into the final quarter of the match.
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES 14 (Tom Trbojevic, Tevita Funa tries; Reuben Garrick 3 goals) defeated CANBERRA RAIDERS 6 (Elliott Whitehead try; Jarrod Croker goal) at Campbelltown Sports Stadium. Referee: Grant Atkins.