'What a freak': Manly star's amazing moment wows fans
Manly’s Tom Trbojevic has sent rugby league fans into a spin after an incredible moment against Parramatta on Sunday afternoon.
The Sea Eagles star returned to face old rivals Parramatta after a one-match rest following his State of Origin heroics with the Blues.
The Manly fullback didn't take long to make his mark on the contest, but it was the manner in which he did that left viewers in awe of his freakish talents.
Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans hoisted a high bomb towards the Parramatta in-goal that Eels fullback Clint Gutherson appeared to have snaffled.
Just like he did for NSW during State of Origin II in Perth though, Trbojevic stole the ball from his rival in mid-air before strolling over the try line untouched.
Commentators and fans were left gobsmacked by the 22-year-old’s extraordinary skills.
what a try turbo #NRLManlyEels
— Tim M (@thetimsim) July 21, 2019
Tommy turbo absolute freak 👏🏻 #NRLManlyEels
— B R A D (@bradfogarty95) July 21, 2019
Tom Trbojevic take a bow, what a freak #NRLManlyEels
— Dylan Matthews (@DylanMatthews91) July 21, 2019
Tom Trbojevic What A Try #NRLManlyEels
— Nick From Australia (@Nickybear2K17) July 21, 2019
Tommy Turbo. That's poetry in motion. What a player #NRLManlyEels
— Steve Zemek (@stevezemek) July 21, 2019
Tommy turbo is a freak #NRLManlyEels
— QuexitFTW (@JT_goddly89) July 21, 2019
Turbo is a special player .... one-on-one take while in the air #nrlmanlyeels
— Dave (@davetravo) July 21, 2019
Tommy, you truly are a freak. #NRLManlyEels
— Brendan Crabb (@JarOfTripsis) July 21, 2019
Trbojevic's try helped Manly turn a first half deficit into a 16-12 lead.
Brad Parker crashed over for another Manly try moments later to extend the advantage to 10 points, before Addin Fonua-Blake made it 26-12 at halftime.
Parramatta had earlier jumped out to the lead courtesy of tries to Ethan Parry and Brad Takairangi, following Reuben Garrick's third minute opener for the Sea Eagles.
Manly skipper Cherry-Evans also crossed in a five-tries-to-two showing for the home side in the first forty minutes.
The Sea Eagles were 12-6 down after 15 minutes on Sunday but raced in the next seven tries to make a mockery of the fifth-versus-sixth contest - sealing a resounding 36-24 victory.
Manly winger Garrick picked up his first career hat trick before finishing with a 20-point individual haul.
He was well-supported by Tom Trbojevic, who ran a game-high 250 metres, set up one try, and scored one himself in yet another scintillating performance.
Trbojevic has still to taste defeat in eight games so far this year - six in the NRL and two representing NSW in State of Origin.
The victory consolidates the Sea Eagles' grip on fifth spot on 22 points, two behind the third-placed Sydney Roosters and fourth-placed Canberra.
It also sets up a tantalising road trip to face ladder leaders Melbourne next week.
For the Eels, the surprisingly easy loss ends a three-game winning streak and raises questions about their ability as a finals force.
The healthy crowd of 15,245 looked set to be in for a hard-fought contest when Parramatta responded quickly to Garrick's opening try for Manly.
First it was debutant Ethan Parry who scored with the second touch of his NRL career, while Mitchell Moses produced a 40-20 and grubber for Takairangi.
But the mini fightback proved to be a mirage.
The Eels' middle melted against a white-hot Sea Eagles attack that showed no remorse against their arch rivals.
Cherry-Evans, Parker, Tom Trbojevic and Fonua Blake all crossed in the space of an 11-minute blitzkrieg to stun the visitors.
At halftime, the Sea Eagles' 955 metres gained was more than double that of the Eels' 437, while also forcing 18 missed tackles to just two.
Garrick completed his hat trick with two tries after the break, before Manly clocked off and allowed two consolation tries to Nathan Brown and Maika Sivo.
With AAP