Trbojevic takes centre stage to bag double for Manly
Two games into his shift from fullback to centre, Trbojevic scored a double at Brookvale Oval on Sunday and set up another as Manly ran to a 24-0 lead.
The win made it two straight for Manly after what had loomed as a crucial fortnight for coach Anthony Seibold, and consigned the Rabbitohs to six straight losses.
TURBO 🚀 pic.twitter.com/R5wAtyOEAs
— NRL (@NRL) July 6, 2025
The main concern for South Sydney will be Brandon Smith, after he limped from the field with ankle injury late in his return game from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Playing his first game in nine months and featuring for Souths for the first time, Smith started and played two short stints before being hurt in a tackle.
Smith's injury came on the same leg he ruptured his ACL last August, and adds to what has been a wretched few years of injuries for the Rabbitohs.
As undermanned as the Rabbitohs may be, this was still a crucial win for Manly given the noise around Sydney's northern beaches a fortnight ago.
Seibold said last week that he would reconsider Trbojevic's centre move after the Souths match, wanting his most dangerous man to get his confidence back.
Trbojevic appears to have at least done that, running with power again in what was easily his best match since March.
He regularly played a roaming role in attack, popping up on the left of the field to give Manly an extra number on that side of the field in attack.
Even at 36, DCE still has it! 👏Sportsbet #TryJuly pic.twitter.com/4OsfBMs5Tf
— NRL (@NRL) July 6, 2025
The Sea Eagles' first try came in that fashion, with Trbojevic linking up with new No.1 Lehi Hopoate on the left side of the field to send Reuben Garrick over.
Trbojevic scored Manly's next himself when he again went in field searching for the ball, and created pressure by chasing through on a Daly Cherry-Evans kick.
On the next play he made use of the broken defensive line and stepped through two to score.
It was Trbojevic's second try after the break that showed the most promise, when he again took a ball on the left, charged infield and beat three to score.
Trbojevic has starred as a roaming centre at representative level, but questions linger over defensive cohesion with two Souths tries coming late down his edge.
The Sea Eagles have the bye next week before a difficult month against three of the NRL's top four, and they desperately need Trbojevic firing if they are to play finals.
Manly hope to have Haumole Olakau'atu back as soon as after that bye, after a middle led by Matt Lodge able to overturn Souths' better early ball on Sunday.
Garrick also scored a double in the win, while fellow winger Jason Saab appeared to suffer a lower-leg injury late.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
15 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Giants send retiring legend Harten out a winner
Jo Harten's legendary 19-year career has ended in fairytale fashion as the Giants concluded their 2025 Super Netball campaign by steamrolling the Melbourne Mavericks 74-59 at a full-voiced Ken Rosewall Arena. Four-time club MVP Harten racked up 33 goals, including seven two-pointers, and eight assists on Saturday as the Giants (5-9) finished the season strongly with four wins from their last six games to leapfrog the Mavericks (4-10) into sixth place. Harten, 36, announced her retirement during the week, drawing the curtain on a glittering career that featured 117 Tests for England - including Commonwealth Games gold - 202 national league games and an MBE for services to netball. Hot hands Harten 🔥Watch every game live on Kayo Sports, Foxtel and Binge. — Suncorp Super Netball (@SuperNetball) July 12, 2025 The Giants rode an unstoppable wave of emotion to the finish line, swamping Melbourne 25-14 in the fourth quarter. With only seconds remaining, Sophie Dwyer gave up a wide-open super-shot to spot up Harten, who, fittingly, finished the job with a long-range bomb on the fulltime bell before being swarmed by teammates and teary coach Julie Fitzgerald. "For my sins, I'm just a born winner and I was getting a bit touchy at three-quarter time when we were neck and neck in a really competitive game," Harten said, holding baby daughter Eddie, after receiving a bouquet of flowers from Netball NSW. "It was an awesome game to finish on. "I was once one of those little girls dreaming of making it to the big time. "Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be here today." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Suncorp Super Netball (@supernetball) The Giants started sluggishly, falling behind 8-3, before tidying up their penalty count and closing the gap to 18-17 at quarter-time. Molly Jovic was prolific through the middle for the Mavs but with Erin O'Brien subbing on and subduing Sasha Glasgow, the Giants were able to square the scores at halftime. Hope White was injected at wing attack for the hosts and did a fine job on Melbourne captain Amy Parmenter, while some late cough-ups from the Mavericks' frontcourt saw the Giants finish the quarter on a 6-0 run, turning a deficit into a 49-45 advantage. From that point, the Giants - and the great Harten - were simply unstoppable.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Supercars Townsville: Broc Feeney bounces back with victory
Broc Feeney has put Triple Eight back on the Supercars winners' list after an impressive drive in a drama-packed 70-lap race at Reid Park in Townsville, in Far North Queensland. The Championship points leader put a tricky Friday in the rear-view mirror, placing his Chevrolet Camaro third on the grid and taking control of the race after the first of two mandatory pitstops. Advertisement 'The turnaround from this team overnight has been fantastic,' Feeney said after the 21st win of his Supercars career. 'That first one after the SC, I just got Davey [Reynolds] and I can't thank them enough. Chaz was really fast in that second stint and I just tried to match him in the end. This thing was a rocket and it looked after its tyres better than I thought.' Broc Feeney, Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Broc Feeney, Triple Eight Race Engineering Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Second place was decided only after a strong multi-car battle, and went in favour of Walkinshaw Andretti United's Chaz Mostert after a stunning drive through the field. A difficult qualifying session, in which he ran off the track on his best lap, put him in 17th, but as soon as he cleared a lap-1 melee he immediately gained ground, aided by aggressive pit strategy. He broke into the top five with 30 laps remaining and kept going, coming home 6.42s behind Feeney. Advertisement 'The car was a rocket. Starting 18th, finishing second today? I wouldn't have believed you,' he said, after managing a power-steering problem for much of the race. 'Something tweaked at the start and it felt a little bit heavy from the word 'go'. It just got gradually worse, it goes light then heavy. I just tried to hang on the best I could.' Third place went to Matt Payne, who underlined Friday's elevation to second in the standings by taking a second podium finish of the weekend in the Grove Racing Ford. 'We struggled with the car a little bit, it's not quite right for the balance we want,' he said. 'But I am happy to hang on to third. Advertisement 'I managed to control the race at the start but ultimately, we didn't have the pace. But it's okay.' Fourth place went to Will Brown, who was the fastest driver on the track from mid-race, but whose winning chances were ended by a five-second penalty after making contact with Will Davison earlier in the race. After he somewhat settled his recent qualifying problems by starting from eighth, he charged late to make ground but could only get as high as fourth place. Brodie Kostecki, Dick Johnson Racing Brodie Kostecki, Dick Johnson Racing Brodie Kostecki failed to capitalise on his Friday pace, his Dick Johnson Racing Ford dropping back as the stints unfolded as other drivers looked to have better tyre performance. Anton De Pasquale took sixth for Team 18, but only after a challenge from fellow Chevrolet driver Jack Le Brocq, who chased him all the way to the flag. Advertisement Ryan Wood, like his WAU teammate Mostert, had a qualifying nightmare. From 24th and last on the grid, the youngster steadily picked his way through the field to eighth place – a 16-position gain. The other former points leader to suffer a tough Saturday was Tickford Racing's Cam Waters, who started a lowly 21st and, after he made contact with his Tickford Racing team-mate Thomas Randle on the opening lap, spun through a full 360 degrees and resumed last. After two pitstops for repairs and a five-second time penalty for a pitlane infringement, Waters soldiered on to 20th place. With the win, Feeney moves to 1639 points, a lead of 201 over Payne, who has 1438. Brown remains third on 1429, from Waters (1246) and Mostert (1157). Kostecki is sixth on 1073 and De Pasquale has moved up to seventh on 902. The Supercars teams and drivers will return to the Townsville circuit on Sunday at 10:05am AET, for qualifying ahead of the 22nd race of the championship. The Top 10 Shoot Out is scheduled for 12:05pm and the 70-lap race is due to start at 3:00pm. Supercars Townsville - Race 2 results To read more articles visit our website.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Palu injury blow as Wallaroos feel Black Ferns' force
The Wallaroos threw their best shot at the Black Ferns before succumbing 37-12 in a loss compounded by an injury to captain Siokapesi Palu. New Zealand winger Portia Woodman-Wickliffe scored three tries on her 34th birthday, her first after just 50 seconds in an ominous start on Saturday in Wellington. But the visitors fired right back, Charlotte Caslick scoring with her first touch as the Wallaroos went blow-for-blow in the first 30 minutes. Hard-running flanker Palu limped off after her foot was trapped under a pile of bodies holding up a Black Ferns try, while Caslick was also limping at fulltime after falling awkwardly in a tackle. The Black Ferns led 10-7 at halftime, then hit top gear, former sevens star Jorja Miller's sensational solo effort a highlight as they improved their record against Australia to a remarkable 29-0 since their first meeting in 1994. It was the Black Ferns' final game on home soil before August's World Cup, whereas the Wallaroos will play Wales in Brisbane and Sydney before departing. "It's just building pressure and ... that self-belief is what we needed," said Palu, who was wearing a moon boot on her right foot post-game. "Definitely a lot of positives in that first half to show that we can stay in it. "It's just now trying to hold that out for 80 minutes." Seventeen-year-old debutant Waiaria Ellis and fellow winger Desiree Miller were both enterprising, while No.10 Tia Hinds kicked well in tricky Wellington conditions. Lydia Kavoa scored the Wallaroos' consolation try in the final moments, some rare joy after they had kept New Zealand's time in their attacking 22 metre zone to just five seconds in the first 30 minutes. "We were not clinical enough (in the first half) ... credit to Australia they really tested us," New Zealand captain Alana Bremner said. "I do (think we're ready for the World Cup). The internal competition is amazing, it grows and grows and we're pushing."
