Sea Eagles don't need Turbo to soar over Storm: Seibold

Yahoo

05-04-2025

Coach Anthony Seibold says Manly have evolved to build belief they can beat anyone with or without superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic.
The next edition of the "Battle of Brookvale" takes place on Sunday with the Sea Eagles minus their strike weapon, who is out for a month with his latest knee injury, up against Melbourne.
In a huge boost, Melbourne will welcome back Dally M Medal-winning halfback Jahrome Hughes, who missed their last-round loss to the Dragons due to a hand injury.
But winger Will Warbrick has again succumbed to concussion symptoms, with Tyran Wishart named in his place.
The Sea Eagles' record without Trbojevic is 16 wins from 47 games, but Seibold says the team aren't as reliant as they used to be on their kingpin and have confidence in Lehi Hopoate at fullback.
"We had a really good 40-point win over the Raiders without Turbo (Trbojevic) and last week Turbo came off at half-time and we had a really solid win against a really determined and desperate Parra side," Seibold said on Saturday.
"We feel as though we're a much better side with Turbo in it, there's no doubt about that, but we feel like we're a very good side regardless these days.
"I think that's probably the growth over the last couple of years, certainly since I've come to the club.
"If you look at the way we play our game there's not a sole reliance on Tom.
"Of course we'd love to have him out there but the reality of it is we don't ... I think the way that we play our footy, it doesn't matter who's wearing what numbers."
Both teams enter the match locked on six points but 2024 grand finalists Melbourne are coming off a shock 14-8 loss to St George Illawarra and haven't won at Brookvale since 2020.
They struggled in attack without Hughes calling the shots, bagging just one try despite 46 play-the-balls in the Dragons' 20m zone.
While the wet conditions had an impact, coach Craig Bellamy wanted to see better ball control from his Storm outfit.
"A little bit more ball control at certain times during the game ... that needs to improve and hopefully it will," Bellamy said.
"I thought our defence was pretty good last week so we need to keep that up and we'll have to this week with the way that Manly play."
The Sea Eagles lead the ladder in points scored, with 124 points from their four matches, with sharpshooter Reuben Garrick a runaway leader with 22 points more than any other player, including five tries.
"We will have to be on our best as Manly have been one of the form sides in the comp and their attack is as sharp as anyone," Bellamy said.
"We know they've scored more points than anyone else so it's going to be a tough ask but hopefully we learnt couple of things last week that can help us improve."