Sea Eagles captain Tom Trbojevic made headlines following his team’s emphatic 52-18 victory over the Dolphins, despite enduring two significant hits during the match. The 29-year-old fullback demonstrated his prowess by scoring the first try and assisting another, solidifying his impact on the game.
However, it was a challenging night for Trbojevic, who faced two tough collisions. The first came when he attempted to catch a high ball, only to be struck by Dolphins player Connelly Lemuelu, who has since been reported for high contact. Although Trbojevic initially remained on the field after this incident, he soon found himself in another precarious situation. A three-man tackle from the Dolphins resulted in the back of his head hitting the ground hard, causing him to struggle to rise.
Commentator Andrew Johns noted that while there was nothing illegal about the tackles, the force of his head striking the turf warranted caution, suggesting it was prudent to remove him from the game. Trbojevic was subsequently escorted off the field by the team doctor, Nathan Gibbs. According to reports, he underwent a 15-minute assessment and was classified as a category two injury, but ultimately did not return to play.
Post-match, Trbojevic shared that while he passed the Head Injury Assessment (HIA), the decision was made to keep him off the field. “It’s all right, I don’t mind the early mark,” he stated, reflecting on the situation with a positive attitude.
This incident follows a similar situation involving his brother, Jake Trbojevic, who had to leave the field for an HIA the previous week. Fortunately, he was cleared of any concussion concerns after a tough time last season.
The Sea Eagles’ dominant performance comes shortly after a significant coaching change, with the departure of Anthony Seibold and the introduction of Kieran Foran as head coach, showcasing a strong response from the team.