“The worst thing is that I did it trying to knock the ball dead when the ball had already been kicked. It was a game of nothing.”
Trbojevic came into the match with his left quad heavily attached, but was quick to point out that it was nothing more than a cork he had picked up a week earlier at Magic Round. He came inside Eels winger Bailey Simonsson early in the second half to set up a Sea Eagles try and remind Fittler he was more than fit.
What frustrated “Turbo″ was that he suffered his injury in a game that meant nothing.Credit:Getty Images
As for Origin’s absence, Trbojevic said: “You like playing in these big arenas. I haven’t played the best footballer this year, but playing Origin is always special, but it’s not going to happen.
Fittler has now lost Cameron Murray (shoulder), Ryan Papenhuyzen (knee and hamstring), Latrell Mitchell (hamstring), Dale Finucane (knee), Victor Radley (ankle) and now Trbojevic, so he was no match. mood to speculate on center options. would be named next Sunday, especially with another round of football to play. The squad was originally slated to be 24 players, which had to account for any COVID alerts, but will now be 22 players.
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Stephen Crichton of Penrith and Kotoni Staggs of Brisbane are in contention, alongside Jack Wighton of Canberra.
Fittler is close with Trbojevic and was more concerned as a friend than as Origin’s coach on Friday night.
“You know what Tom is talking about – watching him go through this is hard work, and you always feel sorry for any player who can’t do what he loves,” Fittler said.
“You could see Jake’s reaction afterwards. I didn’t have my coach’s cap, I had my football fan’s cap.
“Losing Tommy means you lose a good person around camp, you lose a believer in the game and someone who grew up loving football and Origin, so he’s still sincere about what he does. You get your whole heart out of him – he put his body on the line for a dead ball on Friday night Everything the game is about, you miss it without Tommy.
“I will wait until next Sunday to make an appeal on the selection of the team. How many players have lost the last two rounds now?
“Let me get back to sharpening my chainsaw. I only do this when I’m angry.
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