The Rabbitohs host the Wests Tigers, while Manly bask in the glory of its 36-0 defeat of the Gold Coast. Later, the Raiders come up against the Eels
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Tom Trbojevic stars in Manly shutout
Tom Trbojevic has wasted no time paying Manly back for his bizarre pre-season mishap, starring in a 36-0 thrashing of a hapless Gold Coast in Mudgee.
Making his long-awaited season debut after aggravating a hamstring injury in what was alleged to be a bathroom slip, Trbojevic showed no ill-effects in scoring a try, setting up two more, and having a hand in a third.
And that was just in the first half.
By the end of a wet afternoon at Glen Willow Oval, Trbojevic had a match-high 202 metres and nine tackle breaks, almost single-handedly breathing life into the Sea Eagles’ campaign.
After starting the season with a 0-4 win-loss record, Des Hasler’s side has now claimed back-to-back victories, is two points out of the top eight, and looking a different team with Trbojevic on deck.
Second rower Josh Schuster also continued his impressive rookie season with 105 metres and two try assists, while wingers Jason Saab and Reuben Garrick had two tries each.
It was an uncharacteristic no-show from the Titans, who had begun the year as the league’s most improved outfit in Justin Holbrook’s second season in charge.
One week after putting 40 on Newcastle, a humbled Gold Coast were bereft of ideas against the Sea Eagles’ defence and were held scoreless for the first time in the Holbrook era.
Trbojevic had the Titans’ right edge defence in fits in an electric 15-minute ambush, first putting Brad Parker over in the 10th minute before involving himself in a Garrick try soon after.
The New South Wales State of Origin centre did it himself in the 22nd minute, stretching out his legs to finish off a 50-metre effort before he made a 60-metre line-break minutes later to send Saab away.
Having survived a thorough test of his hamstrings, Trbojevic was then given an early mark midway through the second half.
In what was a flawless opening 40 minutes where they completed all 18 sets, the only sour point for the Sea Eagles was the citing of prop Josh Aloiai for a high shot.
Two more tries in a dour second half, another each for Garrick and Saab, completed the demolition.
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