Tom Trbojevic denies ‘dumb’ race through Manly Corso caused latest hamstring injury
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Sea Eagles star Tom Trbojevic has admitted to ‘being an idiot’ but denied a ‘dumb’ sprinting race through Manly Corso on late Saturday night was responsible for his latest hamstring injury, stressing it occurred by slipping in the bathroom.
Manly’s campaign was rocked by another hamstring-related setback for their superstar No 1, who will be out of action for at least the opening month of the competition.
Trbojevic has only played 19 games in the last two years with a chronic left hamstring injury but the latest injury was to his “good hamstring”, on his right leg.
After Trbojevic had fronted media on Monday explaining how he had bizarrely injured his hamstring slipping in the bathroom, footage emerged on Monday of Trbojevic in a foot race through the Manly Corso on Saturday night. It’s understood he had been attending a party for teammate Brad Parker during the day.
But despite it being a bad look given he is still on the comeback trail from injury, a sheepish Trbojevic re-iterated to the Herald on Monday the injury had occurred slipping on tiles while talking to his younger brother the next morning.
“I understand how it looks, I did some dumb stuff Saturday night, but I promise you I hurt the hammy the next morning,” Trbojevic said. “I was having a few drinks and being an idiot on the Corso.”
Tom Trbojevic has suffered another hamstring injury.Credit:Dominic Lorrimer/SMH
Trbojevic flew to Melbourne late last year with teammate Kieran Foran to work with hamstring expert David Opar at the Australian Catholic University. While there have been no issues with his problematic left hamstring, the right one is now a concern.
Prior to the video emerging, Trbojevic had apologised to fans for the new injury.
“It’s pretty embarrassing, I woke up yesterday morning and slipped over in the bathroom and I felt it go - it’s hard to say and it’s hard to take,” Trbojevic said.
“It’s literally all it was. I apologise to the Manly club as an organisation and all the members who won’t see me out there playing footy early this year.
Tom Trbojevic suffers a shoulder injury during his comeback game late last season.Credit:NRL Photos
“It didn’t feel great. I’ve felt the feeling before so I knew pretty quickly. I was straight on the phone to the physio.
“Given my history the last couple of years it doesn’t make it any easier, but I’ve been here before and I know what I need to get right. I’ll go and do that.”
When asked why he felt the need to apologise, Trbojevic said: “I guess the way it happened. If it was at training or in a game, they [the fans] can take that more, but because it was at home ... the fans and this club have shown a lot of trust in me, and I haven’t played enough footy. That’s why I feel bad for them.”
Coach Des Hasler had tried to keep the mood upbeat when he quipped: “We are pleased Tom only has two hamstrings and not three. If it is going to happen it is best now - it is a grade two so it is probably a six-seven week turnaround.”
Hasler added Trbojevic’s career was not in any doubt and he felt tempted to punch him when he felt the need to apologise.
“I was going to knock him out at one stage when he apologies - that is Tommy, that is who he is. He puts everybody else before him and that is just his character,” Hasler said.
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Christian covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.