Behind The Moment: Watch how Tom Trbojevic defied two pain-killing injections to create match-winning play

He had more tape on him than an Egyptian mummy, then copped another blow in his first tackle of the game. Here’s how Tom Trbojevic fought through two pain-killing injections to help seal Manly’s miracle victory. WATCH THE VIDEO

He had more tape on him than an Egyptian mummy.

And Tom Trbojevic may well have wanted his mummy after committing several gut-wrenching errors in Sunday’s elimination final against Canterbury.

The beaten-up Manly fullback struggled and shuffled through 80 minutes of sudden death of football in front of 50,000 fans at Accor Stadium.

He had more damage than a 1974 Holden.

At halftime, vision emerged of ‘Turbo’ having more strapping applied to his torso and shoulder.

Tommy looks 50 going on 28.

GO BEHIND THE MOMENT WITH DEAN RITCHIE IN THE VIDEO ABOVE

Canterbury targeted Tom Trbojevic in the first half. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

But you know how the old saying goes – you can never keep a champion down.

Manly was behind on the scoreboard – and emotionally beaten – for 71 minutes against the Bulldogs.

That’s when a champion decides to step forward – a player who knows he’s buggered, stuffed and injured but won’t surrender.

A player who carries a team on his shoulders when those very shoulders are bruised and wounded.

And in a dramatic moment, Trbojevic lifted his weary body from the lush Accor Stadium turf to set up the Sea Eagles’ match-winning try.

With his side behind 22-18 inside the final 10 minutes, Trbojevic cut a bold and decisive line smack-bang through the Bulldogs’ ruck.

He roared through the middle on his own 30 metre line before offloading to Reuben Garrick, then to Luke Brooks, Ben Trbojevic before the ball went to Tolu Koula, who scored one of the great finals tries in a dynamic 45 metre run to the tryline.

His try was converted and Manly, for the first time, hit the front.

Fox commentator Andrew Voss yelled: “Manly have produced one of the great tries of the year.”

The Sea Eagles held on for an epic two-point win to set up an all-Sydney elimination final next Saturday night at Allianz Stadium.

Trbojevic fronted the media last week and became a tad irritated at the line of questioning which surrounded solely around his shoulder injury. It’s been that way for years, it seems. But each time Trbojevic is bowled over, he gets back up again.

He may not be the remarkably agile athlete we watched in 2021 – when he tore the NRL to shreds – but he’s developed into a tough, hardened player who knows where and when to pop for the ultimate result.

He made an early fumble and was caught out of position on Sunday – both led to Bulldogs tries.

Tom Trbojevic was needled before the game and at halftime. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

It’s not about the errors – it’s about how you recover. And it was Tommy T who enjoyed the final giggle when he ignited his side’s match-winner.

Manly fans filled two bays at Accor and Koula’s try sent them into a delighted frenzy.

Trbojevic versus the Roosters’ James Tedesco will be a fascinating fullback duel next Saturday evening.

Defeat will be unpalatable but Bulldogs fans should take solace from a season which exceeded all expectations. The Bulldogs lost their last three games to crash out of the premiership race. The roar when Canterbury ran onto Accor Stadium was Origin-like.

Originally published as Behind The Moment: Watch how Tom Trbojevic defied two pain-killing injections to create match-winning play