Manly Sea Eagles players Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans have undergone precautionary scans to assess injuries sustained during Friday night3s Round 2 matchup against the Warriors, and the results have brought relief to their team and fans alike as both players have been cleared of significant injury.
The match at Auckland saw Trbojevic pulled from play late due to tightness in his left hamstring and Cherry-Evans experiencing back spasms. Fortunately, scans revealed no severe damage, with both players expected to return for the upcoming clash against the Raiders at 4 Pines Park on March 23, 2025.
Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold confirmed on Sunday morning, March 16, 2025, both Trbojevic and Cherry-Evans were able to dodge major setbacks, providing the team with much-needed assurance. 3Precautionary scans came back positive for Manly3s two most influential figures,4 Seibold stated. 3We anticipate they will both be available for next week3s game.
Cherry-Evans detailed his experience after arriving back to Sydney, explaining his condition: 3I picked up a cork in the first five or 10 minutes, I was running a bit differently, and as a result, the back and hips were being overloaded. That3s as simple as it was. There was no impact injury. But I2ll be very surprised if I2m not playing next week,4 he said.
For Trbojevic, this was particularly good news considering his troubled history with hamstring issues. Unlike his six previous hamstring strains—often incurred during sudden movements—this time, he did not pull up during running or react to any specific incident during the match against the Warriors. Instead, the club is confident the current issue is limited to just stiffness. 3Unlike his six previous hamstring issues, Trbojevic did not pull up... confidence his issue is limited to just stiffness,4 reported The Sydney Morning Herald.
Ahead of the Raiders clash, the Sea Eagles will also see the return of speedster Tolutau Koula (thigh) and veteran prop Siosiua Taukeiaho (knee), adding depth to their roster as they aim to bounce back after their loss to the Warriors.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, the Rabbitohs are facing their own hurdles as Lachlan Hubner is facing a potential two-game suspension, which could extend to three games if his challenge at the NRL judiciary is unsuccessful. Hubner was penalized for delivering a crusher tackle against Dragons captain Clint Gutherson during the Rabbitohs' 25-24 victory over St George Illawarra.
Beyond Hubner, South Sydney is also currently awaiting results for Tallis Duncan concerning another possible hamstring injury from the same match. Despite these setbacks, the Rabbitohs will receive reinforcements with Jack Wighton returning from suspension against Cronulla on March 22, 2025. Mikaela Ravalawa is also set to make his debut following the finalization of his one-year move to the club.
Other players such as Jai Arrow will also be back after passing healthcare protocols related to concussions sustained during their prior winning match on March 15, 2025. Arrow was cleared of any concussion after two separate Head Injury Assessment (HIA) tests.
At the end of the day, player health and fitness remain the focus for every team as they navigate the competitive season. Trbojevic and Cherry-Evans bringing their skills back to the game will certainly be pivotal for the Sea Eagles3 chances moving forward, especially after the challenging loss they face this week. With the depth being tested across the league, teams will be hoping for greater stability and fewer injuries as the season progresses.