Tom Trbojevic in emphatic Manly statement amid brutal Shaun Johnson scenes for Warriors
Trbojevic's masterclass came after a retiring Warriors great was subjected to some hostile treatment.
Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic has sent a fresh warning to his NRL rivals with another superb display in his side's 24-10 win over the Warriors on Friday night. The loss essentially ended the Warriors' faint finals hopes in a brutal blow for retiring halfback Shaun Johnson, who was subjected to some hostile treatment from Manly's home fans at halftime.
Playing his final game at 4 Pines Park before hanging up the boosts on his career at the end of the season, Johnson was booed by the home faithful while conducting an interview with Fox League at halftime. The veteran No.7 helped get the visitors into the break at 10-10 after scoring the first of his side's two tries but he was shown no respect from Manly's fans after being booed during a quick chat with Fox League's Lara Pitt at halftime.
“It was exactly what we thought it was going to be. Back and forth, both sides playing good footy," Johnson said as a chorus of jeers rang out from the crowd. "But it’s a cool place to come and play. I haven’t been here in a while and this is as good as gets anywhere around the world. So we’re loving it.” The Warriors great even had a classy message for the hostile crowd after being asked about the boos during his interview. “Yeah, I love youse too,” Johnson said as he gave the locals an ironic wave.
The two sides couldn't be separated in a dry first half but after a massive downpour later in the evening, it was the Sea Eagles that handled the conditions better in the second forty. Manly kept the Warriors scoreless after the break and crossed for two tries themselves, with Sea Eagles fullback Trbojevic and skipper Daly Cherry-Evans having a hand in just about all of Manly's most promising moves.
Tom Trbojevic impresses as Manly cements top-eight spot
Trbojevic has shown ominous signs he's been returning to his best in recent weeks and went into the game with five tries and seven try assists in the last month alone. 'Turbo' scored another superb try in the first half against the Warriors after getting on the end of a barnstorming run from Tommy Talau - who will nervously await the result of scans on a pectoral injury that forced him off in the second half.
Turbo also appeared to be troubled by a pec injury at one point but played on and set up two tries for the Sea Eagles to keep their hopes of a top-four finish alive. Despite the wet conditions, Turbo was safe under the high ball all night and ran for an impressive 198 metres - with six tackle busts, one line break and two line break assists. Manly's No.1 even showed his class by sharing in a nice post-game moment with Johnson, with Cherry-Evans also hailing his rival No.7's wonderful career.
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"I've got so much respect and admiration for what Shaun has done," Cherry-Evans said after the game. "There has been some massive New Zealand players who have impacted rugby league. And Shaun Johnson is a name I reckon has had a massive impact on New Zealand rugby league. I have a lot of pride in playing against him."
Manly's win sees them temporarily take fifth spot on the ladder and all but guarantees that Anthony Seibold's side will be playing finals footy for the first time since 2021. However, the Warriors' season is now officially over, with last year's fairytale team having entered Friday night needing something of a mathematical miracle to make the finals.
Talau's injury blow is certainly a concern for the Sea Eagles but the return of Tolu Koula couldn't have come at a better time for Seibold's team. Koula looked electric coming off the bench against the Warriors in what was his first game for more than a month after being sidelined with a knee injury.
Sea Eagles officials are confident Talau's pectoral tear is not too serious but he's unlikely to be fit for next week's clash against former club, the Wests Tigers. Koula is expected to return to Manly's starting side in Talau's spot. The Sea Eagles will also be relieved Reuben Garrick has escaped a ban after being placed on report for a hip-drop tackle on Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, with the Manly centre copping a fine for the grade-one dangerous contact charge.
with AAP
