GET ready for a turbo charged Manly to hit Bathurst.
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In the past fortnight since returning from injury, Manly fullback 'turbo' Tom Trbojevic has been in sublime form and he shapes as a key as the Sea Eagles aim to end Penrith's unbeaten start to the NRL season.
The sides will square off at Carrington Park on Saturday afternoon, the match to be Manly's second in the past three weeks in the Central West.
Two weeks ago at Mudgee, Trbojevic starred as the Sea Eagles beat the Titans 36-0. In his first game since injuring his hamstring in February he scored a try and played a hand in setting up three others.
The 24-year-old carried the ball a game high 187 metres.
He backed that effort up with another brilliant display against the West Tigers on Sunday, a match his side won 40-6.
Trbojevic scored a try, had assists for three others and made 191 metres which included a pair of line breaks.
In a perhaps even more ominous sign, Manly coach Des Hasler thinks Trbojevic will only get better.
"I think Tom has more to come yet, personally. He's only been back for two games, so it's been a good start," he said.
While Trbojevic provided the sparkle, Hasler was just as impressed with the job the Manly forward pack did. It's work he hopes they can continue.
"I thought the forwards laid a really good line, really good platform, we were patient in what we did and there were a lot of good things done in and around that area," he said.
"That allows our halves and allows Tommy to get on the front foot and do what he does, promote opportunities."
That win means Manly heads to Bathurst on the back of three consecutive wins, but Hasler is under no illusions as to how tough it will be to extend that streak.
Not only have the Panthers won seven from seven to lead the league and boast the best defensive record, their victories include a 46-6 dismantling of the Sea Eagles in round four.
"We are playing a quality side in the Panthers so we'll need to be a lot better in some areas, they're a great side," he said.
"There were probably parts of that game at Brookvale we were in, but they're just very clinical, very tight, so you know, we'll need to compete very well with them to get anywhere near them.
"We've been working really hard on nullifying turnovers particularly in key parts of the field.
"We've just been working on those hard parts, those parts that aren't flashy, those parts that people don't necessarily see."
Saturday's match at Carrington Park kicks off at 3pm with the Group 10 match between Panthers and Orange CYMS to be played as a curtain-raiser.
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