Manly must overcome grim statistic to beat Broncos
Manly will need to overcome a grim statistic to defeat Brisbane, with the Sea Eagles winless when they are without both Tom Trbojevic and Jason Saab.
Coach Anthony Seibold confirmed on Friday morning illness had forced Saab into a casualty ward also featuring Trbojevic (quad), Siua Taukeiaho (calf), Jake Trbojevic (concussion) and Taniela Paseka (Achilles).
The Sea Eagles will wait until game day to determine whether captain Daly Cherry-Evans backs up from State of Origin duty on Saturday night, with Jake Arthur on stand-by to play halfback.
Manly have lost all nine games when both Saab and Trbojevic have not played since winger Saab's arrival from St George Illawarra in 2021, most recently falling to Cronulla in round six.
They lost to Saturday night's opponent Brisbane without the duo last season before falling to the Sharks in a big round-27 loss.
Trbojevic and Saab offer creative flair and pace out wide, the ability to start sets strongly out of yardage and are both aerial targets for Cherry-Evans' kicks close to the tryline.
Clayton Faulalo looks set to replace Saab after originally being listed as 18th player for ninth-placed Manly.
"We've had a bit of illness go around the group. Unfortunately we lost Benny Trbojevic to illness last week and we've lost Saaby to illness this week," Seibold said.
Veteran forward Jake Trbojevic is tracking to return from an extended concussion lay-off to face Newcastle next Thursday and will likely be joined by Saab and Taukeiaho.
The Broncos game may be the only one Tom Trbojevic misses, with the fullback set to take on light duties at Friday's captain's run as Seibold downplays his latest injury.
"If it was a Sunday game (next weekend), it'd be 100 per cent certain that he'd play (against the Knights)," Seibold said.
Seibold admitted it had been frustrating for Trbojevic that short-term injuries had impacted his availability for a hot-and-cold Manly side desperately in need of his guidance.
The clash with Brisbane looms as especially crucial as Manly hope to bounce back from a demoralising loss to depleted cellar-dwellers Parramatta last week.
"As important as this game is, we're not even halfway through the season yet. That's why we've been conservative with Turbo," Seibold said.
"(The injuries) are frustrating for him because he's such a good pro.
"This is the most minor injury or niggle but we need to look after him."
Seibold heaped praise on Trbojevic's understudy Lehi Hopoate, who has lined up at fullback four times already this season.
"We're a better side with 'Turbo' in, there's no doubt about that. But Lehi's been our most consistent player all season," Seibold said.
"Whenever we've moved Lehi to fullback, he's done a really good job."
Manly will need to overcome a grim statistic to defeat Brisbane, with the Sea Eagles winless when they are without both Tom Trbojevic and Jason Saab.
Coach Anthony Seibold confirmed on Friday morning illness had forced Saab into a casualty ward also featuring Trbojevic (quad), Siua Taukeiaho (calf), Jake Trbojevic (concussion) and Taniela Paseka (Achilles).
The Sea Eagles will wait until game day to determine whether captain Daly Cherry-Evans backs up from State of Origin duty on Saturday night, with Jake Arthur on stand-by to play halfback.
Manly have lost all nine games when both Saab and Trbojevic have not played since winger Saab's arrival from St George Illawarra in 2021, most recently falling to Cronulla in round six.
They lost to Saturday night's opponent Brisbane without the duo last season before falling to the Sharks in a big round-27 loss.
Trbojevic and Saab offer creative flair and pace out wide, the ability to start sets strongly out of yardage and are both aerial targets for Cherry-Evans' kicks close to the tryline.
Clayton Faulalo looks set to replace Saab after originally being listed as 18th player for ninth-placed Manly.
"We've had a bit of illness go around the group. Unfortunately we lost Benny Trbojevic to illness last week and we've lost Saaby to illness this week," Seibold said.
Veteran forward Jake Trbojevic is tracking to return from an extended concussion lay-off to face Newcastle next Thursday and will likely be joined by Saab and Taukeiaho.
The Broncos game may be the only one Tom Trbojevic misses, with the fullback set to take on light duties at Friday's captain's run as Seibold downplays his latest injury.
"If it was a Sunday game (next weekend), it'd be 100 per cent certain that he'd play (against the Knights)," Seibold said.
Seibold admitted it had been frustrating for Trbojevic that short-term injuries had impacted his availability for a hot-and-cold Manly side desperately in need of his guidance.
The clash with Brisbane looms as especially crucial as Manly hope to bounce back from a demoralising loss to depleted cellar-dwellers Parramatta last week.
"As important as this game is, we're not even halfway through the season yet. That's why we've been conservative with Turbo," Seibold said.
"(The injuries) are frustrating for him because he's such a good pro.
"This is the most minor injury or niggle but we need to look after him."
Seibold heaped praise on Trbojevic's understudy Lehi Hopoate, who has lined up at fullback four times already this season.
"We're a better side with 'Turbo' in, there's no doubt about that. But Lehi's been our most consistent player all season," Seibold said.
"Whenever we've moved Lehi to fullback, he's done a really good job."
Manly will need to overcome a grim statistic to defeat Brisbane, with the Sea Eagles winless when they are without both Tom Trbojevic and Jason Saab.
Coach Anthony Seibold confirmed on Friday morning illness had forced Saab into a casualty ward also featuring Trbojevic (quad), Siua Taukeiaho (calf), Jake Trbojevic (concussion) and Taniela Paseka (Achilles).
The Sea Eagles will wait until game day to determine whether captain Daly Cherry-Evans backs up from State of Origin duty on Saturday night, with Jake Arthur on stand-by to play halfback.
Manly have lost all nine games when both Saab and Trbojevic have not played since winger Saab's arrival from St George Illawarra in 2021, most recently falling to Cronulla in round six.
They lost to Saturday night's opponent Brisbane without the duo last season before falling to the Sharks in a big round-27 loss.
Trbojevic and Saab offer creative flair and pace out wide, the ability to start sets strongly out of yardage and are both aerial targets for Cherry-Evans' kicks close to the tryline.
Clayton Faulalo looks set to replace Saab after originally being listed as 18th player for ninth-placed Manly.
"We've had a bit of illness go around the group. Unfortunately we lost Benny Trbojevic to illness last week and we've lost Saaby to illness this week," Seibold said.
Veteran forward Jake Trbojevic is tracking to return from an extended concussion lay-off to face Newcastle next Thursday and will likely be joined by Saab and Taukeiaho.
The Broncos game may be the only one Tom Trbojevic misses, with the fullback set to take on light duties at Friday's captain's run as Seibold downplays his latest injury.
"If it was a Sunday game (next weekend), it'd be 100 per cent certain that he'd play (against the Knights)," Seibold said.
Seibold admitted it had been frustrating for Trbojevic that short-term injuries had impacted his availability for a hot-and-cold Manly side desperately in need of his guidance.
The clash with Brisbane looms as especially crucial as Manly hope to bounce back from a demoralising loss to depleted cellar-dwellers Parramatta last week.
"As important as this game is, we're not even halfway through the season yet. That's why we've been conservative with Turbo," Seibold said.
"(The injuries) are frustrating for him because he's such a good pro.
"This is the most minor injury or niggle but we need to look after him."
Seibold heaped praise on Trbojevic's understudy Lehi Hopoate, who has lined up at fullback four times already this season.
"We're a better side with 'Turbo' in, there's no doubt about that. But Lehi's been our most consistent player all season," Seibold said.
"Whenever we've moved Lehi to fullback, he's done a really good job."
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When Walsh carved through Hynes to set up Shibasaki for his second, it was all over. "Our discipline to stick to our plan and defence has been poor for weeks. Even when we were leading, you could see signs we were hanging on," Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said. "I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. We need to do something about it. We've got to address our discipline." The first half was a bizarre affair, with the Sharks leading 22-12 at the break. Brisbane's kicking game and line speed were poor, with fullback Walsh giving up two seven-tackle sets. The Sharks attacked with freedom, with halves Trindall and Hynes playing lead roles. Trindall laid on the pass for centre Siosifa Talakai to score. He was at it again to put Wilton through a gaping hole, and fullback William Kennedy finished it off for a 10-0 lead. The Sharks opened the scoring through Talakai after Broncos winger Jesse Arthars spilt a bomb. Kennedy scored his second with a classic after Hynes sent second-rower Briton Nikora on his merry way. Trindall did the same for Hynes to stroll through for a 22-6 lead after Broncos hooker Cory Paix darted over from dummy-half for the softest of tries. Mam scored on the cusp of halftime to keep the home side in it. Brisbane have stormed home from a 16-point deficit to beat a wasteful Cronulla 34-28, with fullback Reece Walsh igniting the comeback. When Sharks hooker Blayke Brailey darted over from dummy half to secure a 28-12 lead in the 56th minute, the Broncos appeared cooked in front of 39,042 fans at Suncorp Stadium. But the home side scored four tries in 18 minutes, with Walsh setting up two, to usurp the Sharks in fifth position. "I guess we expect Reece to come up with those things. He just keeps competing," Broncos coach Michael Maguire said. "The captain (Adam Reynolds) spoke to them at halftime and sharpened them up a bit. "It was pleasing that with their backs against the wall ... to fight the way they did and get the win at the end." Sharks forward Teig Wilton went to hospital in the first half after suffering blurred vision from an eye injury, before winger Sione Katoa had a brain explosion on the cusp of halftime. He was sin-binned for a ridiculous touch on Ezra Mam when he was laying in the ruck. The Broncos were too daft to make the most of it. Instead Brailey darted over from close range and the result appeared secured, but the Sharks then fell apart. Winger Ronaldo Mulitalo was ruled to have knocked on and Walsh made the Sharks pay with a bullet pass to centre Gehamat Shibasaki. Sharks five-eighth Braydon Trindall kicked out on the full and Broncos winger Josiah Karapani stormed in despite Sharks half Nicho Hynes falling over and claiming an obstruction. Skipper Adam Reynolds then darted and weaved in traffic and threw a basketball-style pass for Karapani to complete his double in as many weeks. Reynolds landed the conversion from the sideline for a 30-28 lead. When Walsh carved through Hynes to set up Shibasaki for his second, it was all over. "Our discipline to stick to our plan and defence has been poor for weeks. Even when we were leading, you could see signs we were hanging on," Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon said. "I'm not going to sit here and make excuses. We need to do something about it. We've got to address our discipline." The first half was a bizarre affair, with the Sharks leading 22-12 at the break. Brisbane's kicking game and line speed were poor, with fullback Walsh giving up two seven-tackle sets. The Sharks attacked with freedom, with halves Trindall and Hynes playing lead roles. Trindall laid on the pass for centre Siosifa Talakai to score. He was at it again to put Wilton through a gaping hole, and fullback William Kennedy finished it off for a 10-0 lead. The Sharks opened the scoring through Talakai after Broncos winger Jesse Arthars spilt a bomb. Kennedy scored his second with a classic after Hynes sent second-rower Briton Nikora on his merry way. Trindall did the same for Hynes to stroll through for a 22-6 lead after Broncos hooker Cory Paix darted over from dummy-half for the softest of tries. Mam scored on the cusp of halftime to keep the home side in it.
