Trbojevic expects to be fit for Origin
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Manly star Tom Trbojevic expects to be fit for the upcoming State of Origin series after scans revealed he was facing a four-week return from a shoulder injury.
Speaking on Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show, Trbojevic said his recovery should be complete prior to the completion of the NRL finals series.
"It was just a bit of grade-two carry on," Trbojevic joked about his Saturday setback before getting into the seriousness of the injury and the Origin implications.
The match was Trbojevic's first since Round 6, a match in which he suffered a serious hamstring injury.
"I definitely think I will be right [for Origin], it is unfortunate I haven’t got to play much footy this year," he said.
Match: Sea Eagles v Titans
Round 19 -
home Team
Sea Eagles
11th Position
away Team
Titans
9th Position
Venue: 4 Pines Park, Sydney
"I will definitely be right to go, if … the coach picks me."
Blues coach, and Sunday Footy Show panel member, Brad Fittler, was quick to reassure one of his star players that he had nothing to worry about.
"Well, it’s official mate. If you stop sookin', you're officially the first person in the squad of 27," Fittler said.
Trbojevic's injury was suffered early in the second half of his side's 42-24 loss to an impressive Gold Coast side at Lottoland.
Gold Coast overcame the loss of winger Corey Thompson and hooker Mitch Rein before half-time to consign the Sea Eagles to their worst home record since the club was founded in 1947.
Brother Jake was too upset to talk to media after the match but told Fox Sports at full-time that he was "devastated" to see Tom sustain yet another injury.
Tom Trbojevic forced off after injuring shoulder trying to stop Brimson
"He has had such a hard run the last couple of years. It is so frustrating for him and being his big brother it is tough to see how hard it is on him," Jake said.
“I hope he is all right, but he will be so disappointed with today. He works so hard and just loves his football. To have another injury is just so devastating.”
After a mixed performance in which he made four errors, saved a try and had a hand in another scored by Manly forward Taniela Paseka, Trbojevic came from the field in the 62nd minute.
The Sea Eagles made an almost perfect start to the match with captain Daly Cherry-Evans putting second-rower Jack Gosieswki over for a try in the second minute before the Titans had even touched the ball.
However, there was little more for Manly fans to cheer after that as the Titans scored for first-half tries, and then another four in the first 20 minutes of the second half to end the match as a contest.
Gold Coast lost Thompson (hamstring) and hooker Mitch Rein (HIA) before the half-time siren but it did nothing to slow the onslaught after the interval, with interchange forward Sam Stone charging through back-pedalling defence near the Sea Eagles line to score in the 44th minute.
DCE plays short to Gosiewski
The try came after Trbojevic had put down a misdirected Tavita Funa pass but the pair combined to stop Titans rookie Treymain Spry from scoring five minutes later after intercepting a pass from Morgan Harper and racing 90 metres.
Trbojevic managed to ankle tap Spry before Funa tackled him as he planted the ball just short of the try-line.
Things went from bad to worse for the Sea Eagles after New Zealand second-rower Kevin Proctor scored in the 51st minute after diving on a Fogarty kick as Trbojevic attempted to shepherd it over the dead-ball line.
Tonumaipea carries Cherry-Evans over the line
Sea Eagles fans and followers of the game feared the worst when Trbojevic was left clutching at his right shoulder after Brimson raced through an attempted tackle by the fullback superstar to score in the 53rd minute but he bravely attempted to battle on.
After putting down another pass and then failing to take a kick by Taylor that enabled Spry to score in the 60th minute, Trbojevic eventually came from the field.
Gosieswki and Cherry-Evans scored late tries to make the score more respectable.
