The Sea Eagles will challenge the NRL’s new concussion rules in a bold bid to get superstar Tom Trbojevic back on the park ahead of Origin II. Blues centre Trbojevic, 26, was ruled out of game one in Adelaide on Wednesday night in the 68th minute after Maroons prop Thomas Flegler collected him in the head.
An independent doctor based in Sydney ruled ‘Turbo’ suffered a Category 1 head knock following the hit from Flegler. The Sea Eagles disagree, adamant their x-factor star was misdiagnosed.
Under current NRL rules, the 2021 Dally M Medal winner is out of action for a minimum of 11 days as per standard protocol, meaning he potentially won’t play again for Manly ahead of the NSW Blues’ team being named for game two.
According to News Corp, veteran NSW doctor Nathan Gibbs diagnosed Trbojevic as a Category 2 head knock and the NRL club also revealed he displayed no signs of concussion when he underwent his HIA assessment by the Blues medical staff.
A Category 2 concussion would require Trbojevic pass a SCAT test before possibly lining up against the Dolphins on June 9. The Sea Eagles can question the decision to stand-down Trbojevic for 11 days, the NRL confirmed.
Additionally, Trbojevic was also cleared of any concussion symptoms when assessed by former NRL chief medical officer and current Sea Eagles club doctor Dr Paul Bloomfield on Friday.
‘The NRL has received correspondence from Manly Warringah Sea Eagles,’ an NRL spokesperson said, before adding ‘the NRL is considering the matter.’ Manly who have a bye in the NRL this weekend face The Dolphins at 4Pines Park next Friday, nine days after Origin I but it is understood the final decision to play will be left with Trbojevic.
He is under pressure to keep his spot in the Blues team, with Stephen Crichton and Campbell Graham other options. Latrell Mitchell is tipped to overcome a calf injury and play left centre for NSW at Suncorp Stadium in the must win encounter.
