Stormy night threatens to derail Manly’s season after 36-6 loss to Melbourne
Injuries to key players, including superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic, have placed a major dent in Manly’s title aspirations after a 36-6 loss to Melbourne at Brookvale Oval.
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Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic’s injury riddled season is set for one more cruel blow with fears his season is over in what was a dramatic night at Lottoland.
The match was billed as the Battle Of Brookie and it didn’t disappoint.
While the match did not reach any great heights with the Storm racing away 36-6 winners the game was marred by a string of controversies on and off the field.
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None was bigger than Trbojevic coming from the field after just nine minutes with suggestions he had ruptured his pectoral.
Trbojevic was attempting to make a tackle on Melbourne flyer Josh Addo-Carr when he injured his arm. He left the ground in a sling as Manly’s top four hopes now rest on other results going their way.
Hamstring injuries have plagued Trbojevic this year and now his season looks like it will be cut short by a serious injury.
Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler said “it doesn’t look good for Tom”.
“Looks like it is a ruptured pec,” Hasler said. “You would think that kind of injury would be season ending I would say given the time we have left. We will go through the usual procedures and get a scan. But it’s a ruptured pec. It doesn’t look good. For the individual it’s disappointing. He is such a classy player.
“It’s been one of those years for him. That’s the footy gods. He is young. He will get plenty of other opportunities. It’s just the timing that is the tough thing for him and the club.”
The incidents in front of 14,640 people included:
- A fan lashing out on Will Chambers after the Storm centre was sin-binned. The Manly fan was handcuffed and taken from the ground from police with suggestions he tried to punch Chambers in a small opening through the gates up the tunnel as the Storm player was coming from the field.
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Chambers believed the fan tried to hit him. Chambers had been placed on report and sin-binned for a high tackle on Jack Gosiewski in the 69th minute.
- Storm star Cameron Munster coming from the field in the final two minutes with a shoulder injury. He had been carrying a shoulder and neck injury into the game and was almost ruled out. Storm coach Craig Bellamy said he expected to rest him for their next clash against the Cowboys on Friday.
“It’s a different - It’s more into his shoulder,” Bellamy said.
“They don’t know or want to say until they scan him. We’re hoping it’s not too serious. He doesn’t seem think to link it’s linked to his neck. Our doctor think it might be… He is a tough kid, it might be worse than it is.”
- An interchange bungle by the Storm which will be investigated by NRL officials. The Storm could be fined after Brandon Smith ran onto the field to replace Dale Finucane without an interchange card which would have been their eighth and final replacement.
- Manly interchange forward Morgan Boyle coming from the field 60 minutes into the match with a shoulder injury. Hasler said Boyle’s shoulder was “not good”.
- Storm centre Justin Olam scoring a treble of tries.
- Melbourne securing the minor premiership as they push ahead for another grand final appearance which Bellamy labelled as his most pleasing since taking over the club.
Hasler apologised to Chambers for the incident.
“Thankfully no harm came to Will, no should it,” Hasler said. “He didn’t make contact with Wil. Certainly it’s not needed in the sport. It’s not condone. The police have arrested him.”
MELBOURNE 36 (J Olam 3 J Addo-Carr N Asofa-Solomona R Papenhuyzen tries C Smith 6 goals) bt MANLY 6 (T Paseka try R Garrick goal) at Lottoland. Referee: Ben Cummins, Adam Gee. Crowd: 14,640
Originally published as Stormy night threatens to derail Manly’s season after 36-6 loss to Melbourne
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