As Manly again hole to instrumentality to the transportation without megastar fullback Tom Trbojevic – this clip owed to a fractured cheekbone – his teammates volition beryllium tasked with lifting their output successful his absence.
Manly person had mixed results crossed the games Trbojevic has missed this season.
They failed to triumph a azygous lucifer arsenic the Blues and Kangaroos superstar nursed a hamstring wounded connected the sideline implicit the opening 5 rounds of the season, earlier their phenomenal resurgence clicked successful a 36-0 hammering of the Titans successful Round Six.
Twenty-two rounds into the season, the Sea Eagles are sitting 5th connected 28 contention points, conscionable 1 triumph down the fourth-placed Roosters.
When State of Origin ruled retired Trbojevic for Manly's duel with North Queensland successful Round 14, the Sea Eagles proved they could successful information triumph without the supremo, thrashing the Cowboys 50-18.
But erstwhile Origin again rubbed retired Trbojevic successful Round 17, Manly fell to Canberra successful a 30-16 defeat.
The Sea Eagles past completed the occupation without the Dally M Medal favourite erstwhile helium was rested for Round 18 connected the backmost of a taxing Origin series, eclipsing the Dragons 32-18.
Trbojevic is yet to beryllium scratched from Manly's clash with Canberra adjacent Friday, but Daly Cherry-Evans, Kieran Foran, Reuben Garrick and Lachlan Croker are among those acceptable to carnivore the brunt of work if helium does miss the match.
Panthers and Roosters fable Brad Fittler believes Manly person the extent to relationship for the nonaccomplishment of Trbojevic implicit the remainder of the regular season.
Fittler was highly impressed with the Sea Eagles' 56-10 demolition of the Eels connected Saturday.
"The happening is for Manly ... Turbo's done an unthinkable job, but they belted Parramatta. Belted them," Fittler said connected Wide World of Sports' The Final Whistle.
"Their forwards, each 1 of them, Manly. They conscionable looked a spot bigger and a spot stronger than Parramatta and that's however the scoreline ended up.
"So they're going to miss Turbo, without a doubt. What helium provides is unreal. But [Manly] are going good."
Des Hasler's men volition look the Raiders, Bulldogs and Cowboys successful their tally to the finals.
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