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Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic is expected to make his comeback for Saturday’s clash against Penrith at 4 Pines Park.
There will also be another familiar Sea Eagles face back in Manly colours earlier in the day when Matt Lodge makes his return in the NSW Cup against the Dragons at Collegians Sporting Complex in Wollongong.
Tom Trbojevic is poised to return for Manly.Credit: NRL Photos
Trbojevic has been sidelined since suffering minor damage to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee in round four against Parramatta. However, the NSW and Australian representative is expected to be named in the Sea Eagles squad when official team lists are released on Tuesday afternoon.
Brother Jake Trbojevic will be sidelined for the Panthers clash after suffering a category-one concussion against the Dragons last week.
Lodge, meanwhile, is making his league return after a brief sabbatical to pursue boxing. He is initially on a NSW Cup deal with the Sea Eagles, but will be available for NRL selection in coming weeks.
Luckless Smith primed for first Anzac Day clash after years of frustration
Roosters centre Billy Smith has watched more than his fair share of Anzac Day clashes from the grandstand, often accompanied by crutches and a knee brace.
On Friday, he is set to finally play in one for the first time, when the Roosters and St George Illawarra renew their rivalry in the annual Allianz Stadium blockbuster that has become one of the NRL’s showpiece events.
“I grew up coming to these games since I was a toddler,” Smith said on Monday. “But I’ve never been able to play in one, unfortunately. So it’d be a real treat to play this week.
“I’ve got my fingers crossed. I’ve put myself in the best position to be picked.”
Smith is all too familiar with the frustration of spending time on the sidelines, after a cursed run of injuries that has included three complete knee reconstructions.
Last week he was again unavailable, but for a new reason – he was banned for one match for a high tackle on Reece Walsh in the Roosters’ 26-16 shock victory over Brisbane.
“I’ve missed a lot of footy unfortunately over the last few years, but never through suspension,” Smith said.
“So it’s a bit of a different one, sitting on the sidelines, being completely fit, still not playing. So, yeah, it’s disappointing, but I’m ready to go again this week.”
In Smith’s absence last week, the Roosters were outgunned 40-12 by premiers Penrith, leaving coach Trent Robinson pondering selection changes.
Roosters centre Billy Smith is set to play for the Roosters on Anzac Day for the first time.Credit: Getty Images
Smith would appear likely to come straight back in, after scoring a brace against the Broncos, which followed his try in the 20-14 loss to South Sydney on April 4, in what was his first NRL game in more than 18 months.
Still only 25, Smith is living proof of the power of positive thinking.
Rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament is a major setback for any athlete, let alone suffering three such injuries within the space of a few years.
While the Kensington Saints junior admitted his run of cruel blows had been “super disheartening and tragic, and all that sort of stuff”, he has been buoyed by the support of his teammates and Roosters officials, who showed faith in him with a contract extension until the end of 2027.
Billy Smith has endured a terrible run of injuries.Credit: Getty Images
He grimaces when reminded that he has been labelled “the unluckiest man in rugby league”, insisting there are plenty worse off than him.
“Oh mate, I don’t buy into that, to be honest,” he said. “I’m blessed, man. Although injuries have hurt me over the last few years, I live in a beautiful part of the world, I’ve got a beautiful family who love and support me, I’ve got a great friendship group; I’m supported from all angles.
“So, if you look on the footy side, yeah, it’s been a disappointing last 12 months. But there’s so much to be grateful for in this world other than that.”
Having played only 29 NRL games since his debut in 2019, Smith is intent on staying in the moment, rather than dwelling on the past.
“I love it,” he said. “I’m a local boy; I’m a very proud, proud Rooster … the older I get, the more I’ve come to realise that I’m kind of writing my own story a little bit.
“Because I do struggle to find people with the amount of injuries that I’ve had. So although that’s a daunting thing, it’s also an exciting thing.
“It’s a challenge for me to get myself fit and healthy and, as I said, write my own story and make it a good one.”
Kenny facing hip-drop suspension
Penrith hooker Mitch Kenny is facing a two-game suspension for an alleged hip-drop tackle that left Sydney Roosters forward Nat Butcher injured, yet did not result in a sin-binning or even a penalty.
Butcher was initially hurt in the fourth minute of Saturday’s clash at Allianz Stadium before limping from the field five minutes later. He was unable to return, leaving Roosters coach Trent Robinson frustrated after his team’s 40-12 defeat.
Kenny has since been charged with grade-two dangerous contact, his second such offence. If he takes the early guilty plea, he will miss Penrith’s games against Manly and their Magic Round blockbuster against Brisbane.
If the Panthers unsuccessfully challenge the charge at the judiciary, they will lose Kenny for three matches.
The charge adds to Penrith’s worries after what coach Ivan Cleary described as an interchange “balls-up” against the Roosters, in which 14 Panthers players were briefly on the field at the same time.
The NRL is reviewing the incident and Penrith are facing a fine, but a points deduction is considered highly unlikely.
The timing is unfortunate for 27-year-old Kenny, who is reportedly in the mix to make his State of Origin debut for NSW next month.
Penrith hooker Mitch Kenny is facing suspension.Credit: Getty
Returning from a shoulder injury, Kenny made 50 tackles against the Roosters and produced a try assist with a grubber kick, and was afterwards labelled “one of the most underrated players in the competition” by Penrith champion Nathan Cleary in a post-match interview.
Robinson said it was “pretty clear” the bunker should have identified that the Kenny tackle was illegal and taken action on the field.
“He [Butcher] has got an MCL [knee] injury, it is pretty disappointing,” Robinson said.
“Nothing was mentioned at all in the game, but in the tackle he gets an MCL injury and he is done for the night.”
Manly facing prop crisis
Penrith’s next opponents have problems of their own, namely a mounting injury toll that has added gravitas to Manly coach Anthony Seibold’s claims that a gruelling fixture list has pushed his players to their physical limits.
The Sea Eagles, who were flying high in second spot on the points table after winning three of their first four games, have nosedived to 12th after consecutive losses against Melbourne (48-24), Cronulla (24-18) and St George Illawarra (20-18).
The mini-slump has coincided with Manly having to play five games in 25 days – the last three of which came in an 11-day block that included travelling to and from Perth.
That prompted Seibold to speak out after Thursday’s loss to the Dragons at Brookvale.
The coach now faces the challenge of selecting a patched-up team for Saturday’s clash at Commbank Stadium with the revitalised four-time champions.
Jake Trbojevic leaves the field on Thursday night.Credit: Getty Images
In particular, the Sea Eagles are pondering what would appear to be an engine-room crisis.
Towering Taniela Paseka is unlikely to play again this season after rupturing his Achilles playing against Canberra last month.
Toafofoa Sipley was referred straight to the judiciary for a hip-drop tackle against the Dragons and is facing a likely long-term suspension.
Jake Trbojevic suffered a grade-one concussion on Thursday and will miss the clash with Penrith.
In addition, Nathan Brown (shoulder) and Ethan Bullemore (knee) were both injured against the Dragons and are racing the clock to prove their fitness.
“They’ll need to be monitored and won’t train, if available, until the back end of the week,” Seibold said of Brown and Bullemore.
“They both couldn’t finish Thursday’s game so are in doubt.”
Meanwhile, veteran Matt Lodge, who is on a train-and-trial contract that allows him to play in the NRL in round 10, suffered a toe injury recently that has hindered his preparations.
Winger Tommy Talau is also in doubt this week with a lower-leg problem.
Desperately needing some reinforcements to bolster his pack, Seibold is hoping Josh Ailoai, who has missed two of the past three games with a shoulder injury, will be available this week, while Corey Waddell will return from suspension.
He is also optimistic that talismanic Tom Trbojevic is “a good chance” to return from a knee injury that has sidelined him for three games.
Manly have lost all three of those games, adding to their cursed record minus “Tommy Turbo”. Of the 50 games he has missed since 2021, they have won only 16.
Seibold admitted the Sea Eagles are “a bit beaten up at the minute” and told this masthead that the playing schedule had hindered Manly’s selection options.
“The short turnaround after Perth prevented Josh Aloiai from playing,” he said.
“Over this period we have had Tom Trbojevic, Tommy Talau, Jason Saab and Josh Aloiai miss games due to the playing schedule / short turnaround that on normal turnarounds would have been available.”
