Sea Eagles fume over Tom tackle
him down as the Sea Eagle leapt to catch a kick.
Sports doctors have questioned the tackle from a player safety perspective, arguing the fact the ball bounced beforehand was irrelevant.
“It is blatantly dangerous whether it has been caught on the full or whether it bounces before you actually catch it,” Sea Eagles medico Dr Luke Inman said.
“I don’t see the difference, from a player safety perspective. There should be a rule to prevent it either way.
“To make a rule that says you can’t touch a player while he is in the air if is on the full, but not after is it has bounced is bizarre and I find it hard to fathom. If he is in the air he is vulnerable and the NRL need to change that rule to protect the player.”
It was feared the syndesmosis injury to Trbojevic’s left ankle would cost him the season, but he is instead expected to be sidelined for between six to eight weeks.
Dr Inman said that it could have been a lot worse.
“He was only a smidgen off potentially doing his ACL in his knee and looking at the way the knee folded on itself you fear for the worst,” he said. Dr Peter Larkins, a leading sports physicians, said medically there was an identical risk whether a player leapt to catch the ball on the full or after it had bounced.