Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Manly insist they won’t be solely relying on the returning Tom Trbojevic to snap their form slump despite data revealing just how heavily they need their injury-plagued fullback.
The Sea Eagles have lost all three games since Trbojevic went down with a knee issue, slipping out of the NRL’s top eight and falling victim to a familiar trend.
Since the start of 2020, Manly have won 40 of 66 games when Trbojevic has played, for a 60.6 per cent winning rate, but only 21 of 59 – 35.6 per cent – without him.
Putting those numbers in perspective, a 60.6 per cent win rate across a season has been enough to finish seventh or higher on the ladder over the past five years.
But in 2024, a 35.6 per cent win rate would’ve placed the Sea Eagles 13th rather than the 7th they actually finished.
Manly’s attack has also typically struggled to click without Trbojevic.
Last season, the Sea Eagles averaged almost 10 more points per game – 28.2 compared to 18.3 – when Trbojevic played.
Trbojevic joined Manly for training at Homebush on Wednesday as 4 Pines Park underwent returfing.
But the Sea Eagles insist they are not depending on the 2021 Dally M Medallist to spark their season when he makes his comeback against Penrith on Saturday.
“We don’t have that mindset,” said Lehi Hopoate, who shifts from fullback to the wing to accommodate Trbojevic’s return.
“Even when Turbo doesn’t play, our team has full confidence in whoever puts the jersey on.
“Whatever position you play, go all in and focus on your job. Do the little things right.”
Prop Siua Taukeiaho said there was “not really” more pressure to win now that Trbojevic was back, but conceded his inclusion was significant for an out-of-form Sea Eagles side.
“Having Turbo back, having his leadership and his experience, I feel like we can be a lot more dominant,” he said.
“(But) it’s not on Turbo (to fix the slump), there’s a lot of players that take ownership for some of those plays – it comes down to some of our errors or penalties.
“That’s something we’re still working on to fix.”
Manly will be without prop Tof Sipley for the next four games after he was referred directly to the NRL judiciary for the hip-drop tackle that left Mat Feagai with serious leg injuries.
The second man in that hit on the St George Illawarra winger, Taukeiaho said it could be hard to avoid hip-drop tackles, which once again became a hot-button issue over the weekend.
“None of us players go out there to try and hurt each other,” Taukeiaho said.
“We go out there and try to do a roll. There are times when things happen by accident.
“What the NRL’s doing is trying to nail that. We’re trying to be a lot cleaner in our tackles, which is good.”
Fellow prop Josh Aloiai clutched at his hand in pain during Wednesday’s training session but has been backed to return from a minor shoulder issue to face the Panthers.
“Josh is a tough guy, I’m sure he’ll get back on Saturday,” Hopoate said.
