Trent Barrett's unbeaten start to his coaching career could be short-lived with injuries threatening to ravage Manly's undefeated Auckland Nines campaign.
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Utility Jamie Buhrer's rotten luck with injury continued with fears he suffered a broken jaw in what was his comeback from a knee reconstruction. Jake Trbojevic has also been ruled out of the tournament after being heavily concussed when his head was collected by Konrad Hurrell's knee. Teammate Nathan Green is in doubt with a head knock but is expected to play on Sunday while winger Jorge Taufua was ruled out of the tournament before it started with a hamstring injury.
The injuries have left the Sea Eagles depleted and down to a possible 13-man rotation for their final pool game against Canterbury on Sunday. Manly, Cronulla and Melbourne are the only undefeated teams while Brisbane, St George Illawarra and the Roosters finished their two pool games winless after day one of the Auckland Nines.
The Sea Eagles are seeking clearance from the NRL to draft back-rower Dylan Kelly into their squad. Barrett laughed off suggestions he may be forced to make a comeback.
"We lose three today," Barrett said. "We did bring another [player in] in Dylan Kelly because we did have a query over Jorge Taufua but the NRL decided [Kelly] wasn't allowed to play. Hopefully Dylan is cleared."
Trbojevic said that he "can't remember anything but he is fine" after he was stretchered from the field after getting collected Hurrell's knee. The Warriors centre was cleared by the NRL's match review committee but given a "concerning act" warning. He was suspended for three games after breaking the jaw of Cronulla's Anthony Tupou last season after raising his knee in a similar style.
Barrett did not see the tackle. "I didn't really look at it," Barrett said. "No one means to knock someone out."
Despite leaving the likes of big-gun recruits, including Dylan Walker, Martin Taupau, Nate Myles plus Daly Cherry-Evans out of his squad, the Sea Eagles impressed with wins against Canterbury and the highly fancied Warriors to make a successful start to Barrett's coaching career.
"I wasn't too focused on the result," Barrett said. "It was just about them playing for each other and turning up for each other and they are doing it. That gives us something to build off so that is probably the most pleasing thing that they care about results.
"It doesn't matter what tournament we are playing, they want to win for each other. Whatever happens from here on in, I'm very happy with what I've seen the last two games."
Defending NRL premiers North Queensland beat Newcastle 28-12 before suffering a shock one-point loss to the Wests Tigers despite featuring a host of premiership players. Incumbent Nines champions South Sydney won one game before losing to the Storm.
Pool B saw North Queensland, Penrith, Newcastle and the Tigers win a game each. With one pool game remaining for each club, the Roosters are the only team unable to progress into the finals.
