Manly ‘clinic’ soured by massive Turbo blow

The Sea Eagles put on a “clinic” in handing the Bulldogs their first Accor Stadium loss of the season.
But the 34-22 win looks likely to have come at a heavy toll, with injuries to two big names.
Jason Saab was first to go down late in the first half with a suspected syndesmosis, before Tom Trbojevic came off just after the hour mark with a suspected AC joint injury.
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Tom Trbojevic was left bloodied and clutching at a shoulder injury during his side’s clash with the Bulldogs.  Fox League
Trbojevic suffered the injury as he and Luke Brooks put a tackle on Jacob Preston. The weight of the two men coming down on his right arm.
To make matters worse, he wore Preston’s elbow to the forehead, which opened up a gash that bled profusely.
Unsurprisingly, he was assessed for a HIA, but passed. The Sea Eagles will play the Sharks next week, likely for either a home final or a double chance.
Trbojevic was left bleeding profusely. Getty
The Bulldogs hadn’t lost a match at Accor Stadium all season, but hadn’t played at the venue for two months.
They started in the best possible way with Reed Mahoney scoring barely 90 seconds into the contest.
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They led for barely five minutes before Manly hit back, and that was the last time they would do so for the rest of the match, but much of it through sheer tenacity of the Sea Eagles.
The Bulldogs have been the best defensive team in the competition, but the Sea Eagles were able to pick through it as easy as a seagull grabs a loose chip on the Manly corso.
And when they were down the other end, Manly’s defence was more than up to it. Most notably when Tolatau Koula somehow managed to stop what looked to be a certain Jeral Skelton try.
When Reuben Garrick scored in the 51st minute – which would be the final Manly try – Fox Sports commentator Dan Ginnane quipped they had put on a “clinic”.
Matt Burton failed a HIA just after the hour mark to make things harder for the Bulldogs.
Preston and Reed Mahoney scored a late try each to give the Bulldogs a sniff of a comeback, but it wasn’t enough.