A kawakawarau leaf, a Fijian "witch doctor" and the power of prayer - that's being put out there to help speed up Tom Trbojevic's recovery from a serious shoulder injury.
Fiji-based Manly fan Moshin Javed Navi is desperately attempting to get hold of someone at the Sea Eagles to let them know of a natural healing process that apparently helped All Blacks star Waisake Naholo make a "miracle" recovery from a broken leg prior to the 2015 World Cup. The process involved Naholo's uncle Isei Naiova wrapping the kawakawarau leaf around the player's leg on and off four days.
"A lot of people don't know about this healing process and to them it is a miracle cure," Naiova said. "To me and my family it's simply making use of the gift from God and the traditional leaf."
Despite the kind offer, the Sea Eagles are likely to stick to traditional medical practices as Turbo makes yet another injury comeback.
"We do not (go in for alternate medicines). Unless a method comes through the doctor or surgeon then it is not considered," Manly's experienced Head of Performance, Don Singe, told Inside Back. "An athlete may ask us to investigate an area of interest but generally it's a no. He (Trbojevic) will see the surgeons but from historical and evidence-based findings with this type of injury, it is long term."
Turbo won't play again this year and Manly's hopes of a genuine shot at the title look gone as a result. The Sea Eagles were certainly hard done by in the loss to Parramatta last Friday night, but the fact remains they struggle to beat sides above them - with or without Tom.
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