Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic cleared to face Canberra after injury scare

The mystery surrounding Tom Trbojevic’s injury grows with Manly rebuking reports the star fullback will miss Friday’s crucial game.

Tommy Turbo will take on the Raiders on Friday night after surviving an injury scare. (Photo by Jono Searle/Getty Images)

Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic has been named in the Sea Eagles side to take on the Canberra Raiders on Friday night.

The gun fullback had been under an injury cloud after he copped a knock to his cheekbone during Manly’s win over Parramatta on the weekend and could yet be a late out for the clash with the Raiders.

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But Manly physio James Rahme said Trbojevic had recovered well from the incident and will be fine to play this weekend, in a huge boost to the Sea Eagles’ stocks as they press for top-four finish.

“It’s come out in reports that Turbo had an injury to his facial structures,” Rahme said.

“I can report that he’s had a knock to an old injury. The only concern is a bit of swelling, not really too much pain.

“So from a medical point of view, we’re not really concerned about the injury itself.

“We’re just assessing the swelling and hopefully he’s comfortable as the week progresses to enjoy training and he’ll be fine to play.”

Tom Trbojevic will play for Manly this weekend after copping a knock to his face against Parramatta.

Meanwhile, out-of-favour five-eighth Anthony Milford is set to get his first run in the Brisbane Broncos’ starting side in 11 weeks against the New Zealand Warriors this weekend.

The 27-year-old is the beneficiary of a suspension to rookie Tyson Gamble, who has also has a hand injury which would have ruled him out of Sunday’s match anyway.

Milford was spotted training at five-eighth on Tuesday and will be named to start in the halves, having come off the bench for the Broncos against the Roosters last weekend.

It will mark Milford’s first appearance in Brisbane’s starting line-up since Round 12.

Anthony Milford back training at five-eighth for Broncos with Tyson Gamble out suspended.

— Adam Jackson (@AdamJackson_9) August 17, 2021

He has fallen down the selection pecking order with the Broncos under coach Kevin Walters and has even spent time in reserve grade.

Milford, who earned $1 million per season at the Broncos, last month signed a one-year contract with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

He is expected to partner Cody Walker in the halves next season, with veteran Rabbitoh Adam Reynolds bound for Brisbane.

Milford will get a final crack as the Broncos’ starting five-eighth. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

The Rabbitohs have some selection headaches of their own, with Liam Knight, Campbell Graham, Alex Johnston and Dane Gagai all expected to return to face the Panthers, leaving the spots of Josh Mansour, Taane Milne and Braidon Burns under threat.

THURSDAY

Gold Coast Titans vs Melbourne Storm, 7.50pm, Cbus Super Stadium

Titans team: 1. Jayden Campbell 2. Greg Marzhew 3. Brian Kelly 4. Patrick Herbert 5. Corey Thompson 6. Ashley Taylor 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Jarrod Wallace 9. Erin Clark 10. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui 11. Kevin Proctor 12. David Fifita 13. Sam McIntyre 14. Tyrone Peachey 15. Sam Lisone 16. Jaimin Jolliffe 17. Beau Fermor 18. Phillip Sami 19. Mitch Rein 20. Esan Marsters 21. Herman Ese’ese

Storm team: 1. Ryan Papenhuyzen 2. George Jennings 3. Reimis Smith 4. Marion Seve 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Cameron Munster 7. Nicholas Hynes 8. Jesse Bromwich 9. Harry Grant 10. Christian Welch 11. Felise Kaufusi 12. Kenneath Bromwich 13. Chris Lewis 14. Jordan Grant 15. Tom Eisenhuth 16. Tepai Moeroa 17. Cooper Johns 18. Aaron Booth 19. Trent Loiero 20. Aaron Pene 21. Isaac Lumelume

FRIDAY

Canberra Raiders vs Manly Sea Eagles, 6.00pm, Suncorp Stadium

Raiders team: 1. Jordan Rapana 2. Bailey Simonsson 3. Sebastian Kris 4. Matthew Timoko 5. Harley Smith-Shields 6. Jack Wighton 7. Sam Williams 8. Josh Papali’i 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Elliott Whitehead 13. Ryan Sutton 14. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 15. Emre Guler 16. Iosia Soliola 17. Matt Frawley 18. Dunamis Lui 19. Trey Mooney 20. Elijah Anderson 21. Caleb Aekins

Sea Eagles team: 1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Morgan Harper 4. Moses Suli 5. Reuben Garrick 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Josh Aloiai 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Martin Taupau 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Josh Schuster 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Dylan Walker 15. Karl Lawton 16. Curtis Sironen 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Jack Gosiewski 19. Tevita Funa 20. Kurt De Luis 21. Cade Cust

Penrith Panthers vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, 7.55pm, Suncorp Stadium

Panthers team: 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Stephen Crichton 3. Paul Momirovski 4. Matt Burton 5. Brent Naden 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Matthew Eisenhuth 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Mitch Kenny 15. Scott Sorensen 16. J’maine Hopgood 17. Kurt Capewell 18. Izack Tago 19. Tevita Pangai Junior 20. Taylan May 21. James Fisher-Harris

Rabbitohs team: 1. Latrell Mitchell 2. Alex Johnston 3. Dane Gagai 4. Campbell Graham 5. Josh Mansour 6. Cody Walker 7. Adam Reynolds 8. Mark Nicholls 9. Damien Cook 10. Thomas Burgess 11. Keaon Koloamatangi 12. Jai Arrow 13. Cameron Murray 14. Benji Marshall 15. Jacob Host 16. Tevita Tatola 17. Hame Sele 18. Taane Milne 19. Patrick Mago 20. Blake Taaffe 21. Jaydn Su’A

SATURDAY

Wests Tigers vs Cronulla Sharks, 3.00pm, Browne Park, Rockhampton

Tigers team: 1. Moses Mbye 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Tommy Talau 4. Michael Chee-Kam 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Adam Doueihi 7. Luke Brooks 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Jake Simpkin 10. James Tamou 11. Shawn Blore 12. Luciano Leilua 13. Alex Twal 14. Joe Ofahengaue 15. Kelma Tuilagi 16. Tukimihia Simpkins 17. James Roberts 18. Billy Walters 19. Tom Amone 20. Jock Madden 21. Zac Cini

Sharks team: 1. Will Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Mawene Hiroti 4. Jesse Ramien 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Connor Tracey 7. Braydon Trindall 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Aaron Woods 11. Briton Nikora 12. Siosifa Talakai 13. Jack Williams 14. Luke Metcalf 15. Braden Hamlin-Uele 16. Teig Wilton 17. Billy Magoulias 18. Matt Moylan 19. Will Chambers 20. Kai O’Donnell 21. Joniah Lualua

Canterbury Bulldogs vs Newcastle Knights, 5.30pm, Cbus Super Stadium

Bulldogs team: 1. Nick Meaney 2. Corey Allan 3. Will Hopoate 4. Aaron Schoupp 5. Jayden Okunbor 6. Jake Averillo 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Luke Thompson 9. Jackson Topine 10. Ryan James 11. Adam Elliott 12. Corey Waddell 13. Josh Jackson 14. Bailey Biondi-Odo 15. Ava Seumanufagai 16. Corey Horsburgh 17. Joe Stimson 19. Falakiko Manu 20. Chris Patolo 21. Lachlan Lewis 22. Matt Doorey

Knights team: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Enari Tuala 3. Kurt Mann 4. Bradman Best 5. Hymel Hunt 6. Jake Clifford 7. Mitchell Pearce 8. David Klemmer 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Jacob Saifiti 11. Brodie Jones 12. Mitchell Barnett 13. Connor Watson 14. Sauaso Sue 15. Josh King 16. Jirah Momoisea 17. Chris Randall 18. Jack Johns 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Phoenix Crossland 21. Simi Sasagi

Parramatta Eels vs North Queensland Cowboys, 7.35pm, Cbus Super Stadium

Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 5. Haze Dunster 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Isaiah Papali’i 9. Joey Lussick 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Marata Niukore 13. Nathan Brown 14. Will Smith 15. Bryce Cartwright 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Ray Stone 19. Keegan Hipgrave 20. Sean Russell 21. Jakob Arthur

Cowboys team: 1. Valentine Holmes 2. Kyle Feldt 3. Daejarn Asi 4. Jake Granville 5. Ben Hampton 6. Scott Drinkwater 7. Tom Dearden 8. Francis Molo 9. Reece Robson 10. Jordan McLean 11. Ben Condon 12. Heilum Luki 13. Coen Hess 14. Reuben Cotter 15. Jeremiah Nanai 16. Mitchell Dunn 17. Tom Gilbert 18. Jason Taumalolo 19. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 20. Peter Hola 21. Laitia Moceidreke

SUNDAY

St George Illawarra Dragons vs Sydney Roosters, 2.00pm, Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba

Dragons team: 1. Matthew Dufty 2. Mathew Feagai 3. Jack Bird 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Talatau Amone 7. Corey Norman 8. Kaide Ellis 9. Josh Mcguire 10. Jack de Belin 11. Billy Burns 12. Tyrell Fuimaono 13. Tariq Sims 14. Jayden Sullivan 15. Josh Kerr 16. Daniel Alvaro 17. Jackson Ford 18. Adam Clune 19. Poasa Faamausili 20. Jaiyden Hunt 21. Jordan Pereira

Roosters team: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Adam Keighran 4. Joseph Manu 5. Dale Copley 6. Drew Hutchison 7. Sam Walker 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves 9. Sam Verrills 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho 11. Nat Butcher 12. Sitili Tupouniua 13. Isaac Liu 14. Lachlan Lam 15. Egan Butcher 16. Fletcher Baker 17. Ben Thomas 18. Ben Marschke 19. Tukupa Hau Tapuha 20. Brad Abbey 21. Naufahu Whyte

Brisbane Broncos vs Warriors, 4.05pm, Suncorp Stadium

Broncos team: 1. Tesi Niu 2. Corey Oates 3. Selwyn Cobbo 4. Herbie Farnworth 5. Xavier Coates 6. Anthony Milford 7. Albert Kelly 8. Thomas Flegler 9. Danny Levi 10. Payne Haas 11. Alex Glenn 12. Jordan Riki 13. Kobe Hetherington 14. David Mead 15. Rhys Kennedy 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. TC Robati 18. Cory Paix 19. Brendan Piakura 20. Brodie Croft 21. Jake Turpin

Warriors team: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Peta Hiku 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Sean O’Sullivan 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown 11. Josh Curran 12. Euan Aitken 13. Bayley Sironen 14. Kodi Nikorima 15. Bunty Afoa 16. Eliesa Katoa 17. Jazz Tevaga 18. Edward Kosi 20. Jackson Frei 21. Jack Murchie 22. Chad Townsend

Originally published as Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic cleared to face Canberra after injury scare