Manly in Trbojevic scramble

MANLY will have to scramble to overhaul their attack in the absence of Tom Trbojevic for Saturday night’s NRL game on the Gold Coast, according to former Australian Test star Bryan Fletcher.

The Titans will face the seventh-placed Sea Eagles, missing Trbojevic with knee and ankle injuries sustained in a collision with Brisbane winger David Mead last weekend.

His No.1 jersey will instead be worn by fringe winger Matthew Wright, who did not feature in the opening 10 rounds of the NRL season.

Fletcher, a 2002 premiership winner with the Roosters, believes Manly will have their work cut out without Trbojevic against the Titans.

“Yeah it’s going to be very hard because anything good that happens in attack, either he has got a hand in it or he scores the try himself,” Fletcher told the Bulletin.

“They’re going to have to change the way they play because certainly he’s their go-to man.

“So the Titans have probably got Manly at a great time but in saying that, I’m sure (Sea Eagles coach) Trent Barrett has something up his sleeve.”

Titans coach Neil Henry agreed the injury was a “pretty big blow” for their Brookvalebased opponents.

“He (Trbojevic) has sensational,” Henry said.

“He’s been outstanding, very much a handful through the middle of the field and strong under the high ball.”

Fletcher has again been impressed by Gold Coast’s “ticker”, as shown in their 38-36 defeat of Melbourne, and says they are “fast becoming everyone’s second favourite team”.

The 43-year-old will join Fox League partner-in-crime Nathan Hindmarsh for a “Fletch & Hindy” luncheon at Burleigh Leagues Club tomorrow.

The event kicks off at 11.45am with proceeds going towards the Bears’ junior development program. been