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Scott Bailey

Trbojevic down and out in Manly loss

A distressed Tom Trbojevic leaves the field after sustaining an arm injury against Parramatta. (AAP)

Tom Trbojevic's NRL season is in tatters after the superstar fullback suffered a dislocated shoulder in Manly's 22-20 loss to Parramatta.

On a disastrous night for the Sea Eagles, Des Hasler's men finished with 12 men with Sean Keppie in the sin-bin as they let a 20-10 lead slip late.

Mitch Moses was the hero for Parramatta, going from the bin himself earlier in the match to nailing a late conversion from the sideline to win it for the Eels.

But it came on a bad evening for the Sea Eagles, NSW and the NRL as a whole with the potentially season-ending injury for the game's marquee man in Trbojevic.

The Dally M Medallist was hurt when he dived back to challenge Marata Niukore to get to an Eels grubber, with Manly up 20-16 with 16 minutes to go.

The fullback fell awkwardly on his left arm, dislocating his shoulder and immediately appearing in pain before being seen by three members of the medical staff.

The 25-year-old left the field, with Manly weighing up whether to send him straight to hospital with the blow.

The injury is Trbojevic's second of the year and comes just two-and-a-half-weeks out from the State of Origin series opener.

It shapes as another blow for NSW coach Brad Fittler.

The Blues are already without Latrell Mitchell, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Murray and Victor Radley, but Trbojevic's injury is the most crucial of the lot.

Without him and with Keppie binned for a dangerous throw, Manly fought valiantly to hold on.

They were also furious when winger Christian Tuipulotu was called for a high tackle on Hayze Perham, keeping Parramatta on the attack late.

And when Isaiah Papali'i put Will Penisini over with three minutes to play, it allowed Moses to make the hero play from the sideline.

Trbojevic had earlier played his best game of the season to help Manly to the lead.

He had a role in two of Manly's tries, providing a nice pass for their opener when his quick hands helped Morgan Harper put Reuben Garrick over.

Perham scored a double for Parramatta and Daly Cherry-Evans put Tuipulotu over with a brilliant cut-out ball, before Trbojevic was front and centre again after halftime.

With the Eels down a man after Moses had pulled Trbojevic back on a break, the No.1 split Parramatta open with some nice footwork from within his own end.

That allowed him to put Harper over, and when Garrick had his second try from a nice Foran grubber, the Sea Eagles were well in control at 20-10.

But Parramatta would not go away, getting back in the game when Tom Opacic capped off some nice expansive play to score with 20 minutes to go.

Trbojevic's injury then opened the door up for the Eels to pull off the win, putting a cloud over Manly's season in the process.

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