Sea Eagles won’t give up finals fight despite losses of Brett Stewart and Dylan Walker

DEFIANT SEA Eagles players refuse to give up on their finals hopes despite the double blow of losing star backs Dylan Walker and Brett Stewart.

Manly Sea Eagles fullback Brett Stewart in action. Picture: Jerad Williams

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DEFIANT SEA Eagles players refuse to give up on their finals hopes despite the double blow of losing star backs Dylan Walker and Brett Stewart for extended periods.

Walker is expected to miss a month of football after damaging his hand when he punched a wooden door on Saturday night while Stewart will have knee surgery that will sideline him for six weeks

“They are two big losses there but Manly always seems to be going through some sort of adversity and usually we respond pretty well to it,” said prop Darcy Lussick ahead of Saturday’s game with the Warriors in Perth.

“Out on the field there are no problems, so we just have go out there and enjoy ourselves and hopefully get a win.”

And his words were echoed by fellow front-rower Luke Burgess.

“There are always things going on in rugby league and as professionals we just have to try and get on with it,” Burgess said

But the players admit that the absence of Stewart, “the prince of Brookvale” is a setback.

“It’s disappointing he is out and he is a massive loss for us,” Lussick said.

“His leadership and his talk and his experience and what he has done for the club over the years has been tremendous.”

Lussick has spoken to his mate Stewart a few times about his situation.

“He seems all right, he is obviously disappointed,” Lussick said.

“I think he just wants to have the surgery done and start his rehab and hopefully we’ll see him on the field soon.”

But the side has the ideal replacement at fullback in 19-year-old Tom Trbojevic, a future State of Origin player who continues to impress despite carrying an ankle injury.

“He filled in last game and he was really good,” Lussick said.