Des Hasler left the door open for Tom Trbojevic to make his return in Round 5 but insisted the superstar full-back won’t fix Manly’s problems after another heavy defeat on Thursday night.
The Sea Eagles are 0-4 to start the 2021 NRL season after suffering an embarrassing 46-6 loss to the Penrith Panthers at Lottoland.
Already missing several key players, Manly lost Morgan Boyle (dislocated shoulder) and Moses Suli (back) to injuries suffered in the Panthers drubbing.
Help might be on the way with Hasler suggesting Trbojevic is a chance to return in next Friday’s clash against the New Zealand Warriors.
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“We’re exploring that, yeah, but that’s not going to fix it,” Hasler said when asked if Trbojevic is a chance to return in Round 5.
“He’s not going to do anything to make us hang onto the ball and it’s not a decision that we’re going to rush.”
The representative star hasn’t played since suffering yet another hamstring injury against the Titans last September in what was his comeback match from a three-month injury layoff.
Hasler’s men need all the help they can get after losing their first four matches of the campaign by a combined 156-34.
Asked if he has ever experienced a tougher period during his 21 seasons at the Sea Eagles as a players and coach, Hasler replied: “You always go through tough periods for sure, this is another one but I think these experiences are certainly going to be part of our recovery.”
He added of his side’s latest loss to the impressive Panthers: “You’d like to have the first 20 minutes over again.
“Various things we spoke about that we were aware of, and you’re just not in the game, just not in the game, turning the ball over, just in not in the game with that kind of discipline with the ball, just with basics and fundamentals in turning the ball over and not controlling possession.
“And if you give a side like Penrith a start like that it’s always going to be difficult.
“I thought the right template at the back-end of the first half, a bit of ball, a bit of set-for-set and we got into an arm wrestle with them.
“We’re a bit bent out of shape, we’re got more injuries to contend with but we might get a few back.
“We’ll keep turning up and keep aiming up and that’s all we can do.”
