Mar 30th, 2019

Mar 30th, 2019

Rolls Royce fullback Tom Trbojevic reckons it wasn't just wet weather holding Manly back in their two lacklustre season-opening NRL losses.

In the wake of his heroics in the 46-12 thrashing of the Warriors, Trbojevic says the Sea Eagles had paid the price for lacking confidence at key moments against the Tigers and Roosters.

Finishing their chances wasn't a problem in Christchurch as Trbojevic and halfback Daly Cherry-Evans ran amok, bagging a brace each in their eight-try rout of the hapless Kiwi club.

A pre-game message from coach Des Hasler paid big dividends.

"It was just to back ourselves. The first couple of weeks we had opportunities but we kind of locked up and didn't take them," Trbojevic said.

"We haven't been good the first couple of weeks but we had a real emphasis on taking opportunities and I think we did that really well."

Cherry-Evans believes Trbojevic's return to fitness made an impact on the Sea Eagles well before kickoff at Christchurch Stadium.

The fullback's enthusiasm throughout the week had injected confidence into teammates who might otherwise have questioned themselves after twin losses, he said.

"You don't want to sit at the bottom of the ladder for too long because that microscope really zeros in on you," Cherry-Evans said.

"I'm glad we've moved off that section of the table but it's round three so we won't get too far ahead of ourselves."

Both State of Origin stars said the week had seemed surreal, dominated by their exposure to the grief in Christchurch following the March 15 terror attacks.

Trbojevic said visiting a mosque where more than 40 people lost their lives had been jarring for players and staff.

"We did a couple of things around that which was good, but you can't compare it to anything. That's just horrific circumstance and I feel sorry for all involved," he said.

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