Manly's pursuit of a top-four berth has been rattled by superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic being ruled retired of tomorrow night's clash with Canberra owed to his facial injury.
Trbojevic's availability had been shrouded successful uncertainty ever since helium collided with teammate Jason Saab during Manly's 56-10 belting of Parramatta connected Saturday.
While it primitively had Manly reasoning the Dally M Medal favourite had fractured his cheekbone, that fearfulness has since been allayed.
However, Trbojevic has nevertheless been ruled retired of the Raiders clash successful Brisbane, successful which a triumph volition spot the Sea Eagles determination into the apical 4 if the Roosters suffer to the Dragons.
"He was determined to instrumentality the tract and said connected Monday to Nine News Sydney helium didn't spot immoderate crushed not to play," Nine's Danny Weidler tweeted.
"Manly importune helium is conscionable retired for 1 week and accidental determination is nary fracture successful his cheekbone."
Adding to the value of Trbojevic's wounded is the information helium had done harm to the aforesaid country of his look successful the past.
Manly's determination to remainder Trbojevic follows a blunt reply from manager Des Hasler successful today's media conference.
"I'm not a facial surgeon," Hasler said erstwhile prodded connected Trbojevic's injury.
The Sea Eagles are locked successful a three-way conflict with the Roosters and Eels for 4th connected the ladder.
That's contempt the information they mislaid their archetypal 4 games of the season.
Manly are acceptable to conscionable Canberra, Canterbury and North Queensland successful their remaining regular-season games.
The Sea Eagles mislaid to the Raiders 30-16 successful Brookvale erstwhile State of Origin work had Trbojevic sidelined successful Round 17.
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