Tom Trbojevic jokes that Sea Eagles fans should wear a gas mask after asbestos scare
Tom Trbojevic knows the people on the northern beaches are a tough bunch and have a sense of humour. So he reckons Sea Eagles fans to come prepared for rough conditions at Lottoland …
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Bring your gas masks and brave the asbestos.
That’s the message from injured Manly funny man Tom Trbojevic ahead of the Sea Eagles’ elimination final against Cronulla at Lottoland on Saturday night.
Traces of asbestos were discovered on the ground’s northern hill during a geotechnical investigation as part of Brookvale Oval’s $36 million Centre of Excellence development.
Trbojevic has called on fans to show up in their Manly colours … and to take some precautions too.
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“[They should wear] a Manly jersey and a gas mask,” Trbojevic joked.
“I know as a local northern beaches guy growing up, we are a tough bunch over there and I’m sure that the Manly faithful will turn up to Brookie in numbers and tough out the asbestos.”
The asbestos discovery threatened to rob the Sea Eagles of a home final but on Monday night the NRL gave Lottoland the green light.
The Northern Beaches Council and Manly lodged a safety report which made assurances the hill would be safe for fans to use. The asbestos affected will be covered with artificial grass to eliminate any risk to fans.
The NRL would have shifted the final to Bankwest Stadium if Lottoland didn’t get the all clear.
Trbojevic said his side is relieved the crucial match wasn’t moved since the Sea Eagles had earned the right to play at home after finishing 6th on the ladder.
It also gives Des Hasler’s men the opportunity to continue their dominant displays at the venue this year and their overall winning record against the Sharks.
At Lottoland, the Sea Eagles have won seven from 10 games in 2019 and 41 from 46 matches against the Sharks. Cronulla haven’t beaten Manly at the ground since 2008.
“For us, it’s a massive lift playing at Brookie. There’s no better feeling than running out in front of a packed home crowd. There’s no better help on the footy field than the support of your fans cheering you on,” Trbojevic said.
The fullback will be watching from the sidelines on Saturday night after he suffered a season ending pectoral injury which robbed him of a chance to play in this year’s finals series.
Trbojevic’s season has been punctuated with injury. He missed the start of 2019 and then a further two months after he suffered separate hamstring injuries.
“You play so you can be part of those games and it’s unfortunate I won’t be there. I missed games at the start of the year and that was tough and I think this will be a bit tougher,” he said.
“You want to be out there, you see your teammates putting in the hard work and you’re on the sideline doing nothing, you want to be out there helping.”
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Speaking to The Daily Telegraph at Kayo’s NRL finals series launch, the 22-year old said he is confident he’ll be fit and ready to start pre-season training in December.
“I’m in a sling for a month, then it’s about a three month recovery and until I can start playing again. I’ll be right by the end of the year and ready for round one, easy,” Trbojevic said.
Kayo launched its coverage of the 2019 Finals on Tuesday, with a series of NRL inspired light projections, which helped usher in the upcoming September action on Kayo.
Originally published as Tom Trbojevic jokes that Sea Eagles fans should wear a gas mask after asbestos scare