NRL Round 26 2024: Manly win 34-22 over Bulldogs, Tom Trbojevic suffers shoulder injury

The Manly Sea Eagles dominated the Bulldogs, but the win has come at a potentially massive cost, with superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic suffering a shoulder injury.

Manly are set to pay a high price for their win over the Bulldogs after winger Jason Saab’s season was placed in jeopardy with an ankle injury and superstar Tom Trbojevic left the field with a shoulder concern.

Trbojevic, who has been in scintillating form since returning from injury earlier in the season, watched the closing stages of the Sea Eagles win from the bench on the sidelines.

He appeared to have his right arm in a sling after being on the receiving end of friendly fire from teammate Luke Brooks after attempting to tackle Bulldogs back rower Jake Preston.

Trbojevic has been struggling with a leg problem prior to that, having had the knee heavily strapped earlier in the game.

However, the major concern for Manly is the shoulder problem that ended his evening at Accor Stadium with the early prognosis an AC joint problem.

Tom Trbojevic was cleared of a HIA but suffered a suspected shoulder injury late in the win over Canterbury. Picture: Getty Images

Manly coach Anthony Seibold confirmed Trbojevic will miss the Sea Eagles Round 27 clash against Cronulla, but is hopeful he will be fine for week one of the finals.

“You can needle them up and play,” Seibold said. “He is tough.”

The Sea Eagles have struggled without Trbojevic in recent seasons and their premiership chances will significantly slide if he is forced to spend another stint on the sidelines.

“One thing about Tom is he is the most resilient person I have seen in my life,” brother Jake Trbojevic said.

“To get his 150th today at 27 after what he has been through, is just a credit to him. I love him so much. I am so proud of him. To see him go off was a bit heartbreaking. But to get a win in his 150th – and as I said to hit his 150th at his age with what he has been through, it is pretty phenomenal.

“Everyone over the spit bridge will be crossing their fingers. We need to have him out there. On his day he is the best player in the game.”

Captain Daly Cherry-Evans insisted Lehi Hopoate and Tolu Koula could deputise if needed.

“I don’t know which way we would go, but Lehi Hopoate is playing some great football and I don’t think it would phase him one bit if he was to be the fullback for the rest of the season if Tom was out,” Cherry-Evans said.

“Tolu Koula has shown he is a capable fullback. it is not all doom and gloom but I will cross my fingers that Tom is back.”

Manly also lost Jason Saab in the first half to an ankle injury. Picture: NRL Imagery

He wasn’t the only Manly star to succumb to injury in the penultimate round of the premiership. Saab is also in doubt for the club’s finals campaign after being forced from the field with a suspected ankle syndesmosis after a tackle that left Bulldogs centre Bronson Xerri on report.

Saab missed a tackle on Josh Addo-Carr in the lead-up to the Bulldogs’ opening try but then atoned for his error when he scored a try of his own. His night, however, came to a premature end after a tackle that resulted in Xerri being placed on report by referee Ashley Klein.

Saab tried to battle on but was in clear discomfort and eventually left the field and went straight up the tunnel with the Sea Eagles medical staff. He eventually returned to the sidelines on crutches with his foot in a boot.

MATCH REPORT: TURBO INJURY MARS MANLY’S DOGGIES DEMOLITION

—Martin Gabor

Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold says superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic will miss next week’s game against the Sharks with an AC joint injury but should be fine to play in the first week of the finals in a huge boost for the club.

Trbojevic had been terrific again as the Sea Eagles stunned the Bulldogs with a 34-22 win at Accor Stadium, but the only thing that Manly fans care about is his health after he left the field with 16 minutes to go and looking distraught.

The luckless fullback was trying to tackle Jacob Preston when his right arm got stretched awkwardly and then pinned to the ground as teammate Luke Brooks landed on it.

Manly have put a clinic on the Bulldogs in a massive boost for their hopes of securing a week one home finals clash. Picture: Getty Images

While hamstring injuries have plagued him throughout his career, Trbojevic has also had season-ending shoulder and pec injuries in the past, with scans on Saturday to determine how serious the latest setback is.

“It’s an AC joint so he’ll definitely miss next week from what I understand,” Seibold said, with Trbojevic leaving the ground with stitches above his eye, strapping on his leg and with his arm tucked by his side.

“He’ll get an X-ray or a scan, but he’ll be all right for week one of the finals because it’s something you can take the pain away (with a needle).

“We’ll make sure we look after him.

“The good thing is those types of injuries aren’t season ending. There is some pain there, and he will be a bit sore and sorry for the next few weeks. But he will be right to go for week one.”

Trbojevic had been limping in the second half after Viliame Kikau cannoned into his knees while scoring a try that was ruled out for obstruction, but Seibold brushed that off as a corked shin.

Lehi Hopoate would be the logical option to replace him at fullback, but he could be forced to stay on a wing after speedster Jason Saab came off with a high-ankle sprain which is set to sideline him for 2-4 weeks.

“Those can be quite nasty so I’m not as confident on Saaby,” Seibold said, with the winger leaving the ground on crutches and in a moon boot.

“It was a hip-drop tackle that hurt him so it’s an awkward one. He’s not comfortable in there.”

Have the Bulldogs lost their bite? Picture: Getty Images

SEA EAGLES SOAR

The Friday 6pm timeslot was supposed to be the graveyard game for rugby league, but it has roared back to life and so have the Sea Eagles after they silenced a raucous 35,502 crowd to keep their hopes alive of hosting a final in week one.

Olympic Park was a sea of blue and white two hours before kick-off with packed trains arriving every few minutes while it was easier to find parking in the city on New Year’s Eve than it was trying to get a spot near the stadium.

It was supposed to be the night the Bulldogs kept their top-four hopes alive against a team that lost to the Tigers a week ago, but it was one-way traffic on the field and with Bulldogs fans trying to leave the ground early as Manly pulled off a stunning ambush.

The Sea Eagles are now just one point behind the Bulldogs and Cowboys after they bullied the hosts through the middle, while halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks fed their outside backs who iced their chances.

Brooks threw a peach of a pass to set up Karl Lawton in the first half, but he could be in trouble after he was placed on report for a lifting tackle as he eyes off his first finals game in the NRL.

The Bulldogs suffered a blow of their own, with star five-eighth Matt Burton ruled out with a HIA late in the game. Picture: NRL Imagery

BULLDOGS LOSE THEIR BITE

The Bulldogs had a chance to put pressure on the top four if they could have extended their 10-0 home record, but there’s every chance they could slide down to seventh spot next week if they lose to the Cowboys and Manly beat the Sharks.

The night couldn’t have started any better when Reed Mahoney scored before the visitors had even touched the ball.

But it went downhill pretty quickly from there as their league-best defence crumbled to concede a season-high 34 points.

And things could get worse after Matt Burton failed an HIA while Bronson Xerri was placed on report for a hip-drop tackle on Saab.

“He’s actually OK, he’s really good,” Cameron Ciraldo said of his five-eighth.

Originally published as NRL Round 26 2024: Manly win 34-22 over Bulldogs, Tom Trbojevic suffers shoulder injury