Tom Trbojevic could only put his hands on his head and look to the heavens in disbelief when he threw a cut-out pass that was intercepted by Selwyn Cobbo who ran 80 metres to score a try.
It told the tale for the Manly superstar’s frustrating night as the Sea Eagles were thumped 32-6 by Brisbane.
Billy Walters (left) celebrates his try with teammates.Credit: Getty
It was an awful Broncos home-coming for former coach Anthony Seibold, the Sea Eagles chief who lasted just 20 months into a five-year deal at Red Hill.
But Trbojevic looked even more gutted by full-time as he struggled to recapture the form that has made him as household name.
Trbojevic caught an Adam Reynolds bomb in the first half and was easily shoved back into the in-goal area by Jordan Riki.
He later threw a pass for winger Jason Saab which dribbled into touch.
But the real heartbreaker came in the 70th minute when a ball meant for Manly winger Reuben Garrick landed in the path of Cobbo.
Trbojevic turned to set after Cobbo but gave up the foot race as the speedster surged away.
This time last year ‘Turbo’ would have backed himself to run down the Broncos flyer. To be fair to Trbojevic, his pre-season was cut short because of a hamstring injury. He missed last week because of a groin strain. And he did set up the final try for his brother Ben.
TV commentators made the point during the coverage Trbojevic looked “frustrated” most of the night.
Trbojevic even looked disgruntled when the cameras captured his injured brother Jake talking to him in the sheds and laying down the law at the break.
Who knows if Trbojevic will be fit for Origin I later this month. Coach Brad Fittler has some big decisions to make.
Seibold and Manly will no doubt want Trbojevic back to full fitness as their season suddenly goes into freefall.
“I felt really good out there, I’m obviously not playing the footy I want to play at the moment, which is disappointing, but there are no injuries holding me back,″ Trbojevic said.
Payne Haas on the charge for Brisbane.Credit: Getty
“I know there’s a lot of speculation in the media about it, but I feel really good in the body, I just need to find some form.“
A win last weekend against the Titans could have pushed Manly up to second on the NRL ladder. But successive losses have them on the brink of dropping out of the top eight.
Daly Cherry-Evans tried his heart out, especially in the second half when the ‘home’ team started to get through their sets.
They trailed 20-0 at half-time, and largely because they completed at just 50 per cent.
Cherry-Evans launched a 55m kick and chased hard to shove Cobbo back into his own in-goal to force a dropout. But any fightback was over when Adam Reynolds successfully produced a short dropout.
It did not stop Cherry-Evans trying to break open the Broncos defence.
Brisbane were relieved to bounce back into the winner’s circle after being humbled by South Sydney.
Payne Haas was epic in his comeback game from suspension, while Reece Walsh was busy early, laying on two tries for Cobbo.
Coach Kevin Walters underwent a couple of COVID tests just to be at the game, and would have been glad he dragged himself off his sick bed to watch his troops live.
Jesse Arthars puts his name on the scoresheet.Credit: Getty
A few Broncos were clearly not feeling the best with Walsh spotted vomiting into a garbage bin before taking the field.
Manly, who lost Brad Parker later to a potential knee injury, will need to get their act together in the coming weeks with Cronulla and Canberra awaiting.
Jake will be out for a while with a calf injury. Manly badly need his little bro to get back to playing well – and looking happy.
