Sea Eagles first club to challenge NRL’s new concussion rules in a bid to get Tom Trbojevic back
Sea Eagles become first club to challenge NRL’s new concussion rules in bid to get superstar Tom Trbojevic back on the park
- Sea Eagles disagree with the Category 1 ruling
- Fullback Tom Trbojevic is out for 11 days
- Club approached NRL, who are ‘considering the matter’
- Head knock ruling came from a doctor in Sydney’s bunker
- Trbojevic left the field at Origin I in Adelaide after a high shot
The Sea Eagles will challenge the NRL’s new concussion rules in a bold effort to get superstar Tom Trbojevic back into the park ahead of Origin II.
Blues Center Trbojevic, 26, was ruled out of game one in Adelaide in the 68th minute on Wednesday night after Maroons prop Thomas Flegler collected him in the head.
Under current NRL rules, the winner of the 2021 Dally M Medal will be out of action for a minimum of 11 days as per standard protocol, meaning he may not play for Manly again before the NSW Blues team is named for game two.
An independent physician – based in Sydney – ruled that ‘Turbo’ received a Category 1 head punch after Flegler’s hit.
The Sea Eagles disagree, adamant that their x-factor star had been misdiagnosed.
The Sea Eagles will challenge the NRL’s new concussion rules in a daring bid to get superstar Tom Trbojevic back in the park
Manly has formally questioned the Category 1 knock for Trbojevic at the Origin opener in Adelaide – from a Sydney doctor
According to News CorpVeteran NSW doctor Nathan Gibbs diagnosed Trbojevic as a category 2 head throb – and the NRL club also revealed he showed no signs of concussion when he underwent his HIA assessment by the Blues medical staff.
In addition, Trbojevic was also cleared of concussion symptoms when he was assessed on Friday by former NRL chief physician and current Sea Eagles club doctor Dr. Paul Bloomfield.
A Category 2 concussion requires Trbojevic to pass a SCAT test before potentially lining up against the Dolphins on June 9.
The Sea Eagles may question the decision to withdraw Trbojevic for 11 days, the NRL confirmed.
“The NRL has received correspondence from Manly Warringah Sea Eagles,” said an NRL spokesperson, before adding “the NRL is considering the matter.”
Manly – who has a bye in the NRL this weekend – takes on The Dolphins at 4Pines Park next Friday, nine days after Origin I, but it is clear that the final decision to play will be left to Trbojevic.
He is under pressure to keep his place in the Blues squad, with Stephen Crichton and Campbell Graham other options.
Latrell Mitchell is tipped to overcome a calf injury to play left center for NSW at Suncorp Stadium in the must-win encounter.