The Manly Sea Eagles are set to face the Sydney Roosters in a crucial semi-final, coming off a dramatic victory in the elimination final against the Bulldogs. Despite being outplayed for significant portions of that match, Manly’s experience shone through, allowing them to secure a narrow two-point win thanks to their performance in critical moments.
Coach Anthony Seibold is optimistic about the team’s prospects, especially with the potential return to form of star player Tom Trbojevic, who has been struggling with injuries recently. In a press conference on Friday, Seibold noted that Trbojevic has recovered well from the physical contest against the Bulldogs and is expected to be at his explosive best for this do-or-die clash against the Roosters.
“Tom’s feeling much better this week after receiving treatment and taking care of himself,” Seibold commented. “He might have felt a bit off in the first half, but I thought he improved significantly after the break. He was able to participate fully in Wednesday’s training without any pain relief, so we anticipate he will be ready for Saturday night.”
Seibold emphasized that he is not overextending Trbojevic, despite the close timing to his shoulder injury sustained during the regular season match against the Bulldogs. “There are no excuses here. I understand that Turbo is a prominent figure, and there’s a lot of attention on his injury. However, this kind of injury is relatively common in rugby league, and it’s typical for players to receive injections at halftime for pain management,” he explained.
Unfortunately, winger Jason Saab remains sidelined with a leg injury, which he sustained in the same game as Trbojevic. As a result, Tolutau Koula will again take his place on the wing.
Seibold believes that the manner in which they clinched victory last weekend bodes well for their upcoming match against the Roosters, who previously defeated them at Allianz Stadium during the regular season. “The way we came back to win that game was encouraging. We have had our share of tight wins, but this was different since we were largely dominated in terms of field position and possession. Overcoming that was a positive sign for us,” he stated.
As the Sea Eagles prepare for this intense semi-final, the focus remains on building on their previous success and ensuring that their star players can perform at their highest level. The matchup against the Roosters promises to be challenging, but with the right mindset and preparation, Manly is determined to advance further in the competition.
