Manly are performing better without Tom Trbojevic than at any other time across his luckless run of long-term injuries that began more than seven years ago.
Since the beginning of the 2019 season, the Sea Eagles' marquee fullback has missed multiple NRL games through injury on 12 separate occasions.
But Manly had never posted a winning record during any of them, until Trbojevic's ongoing lay-off with the hamstring injury he suffered in round seven.
"In the past, we've relied on Turbo a lot," prop Taniela Paseka admitted.
Thursday's clash with South Sydney is expected to be the last Trbojevic misses, with interim coach Kieran Foran previously flagging his return after the round-15 bye.
Without him, Manly have won four of their past six games for a 66 per cent winning record, with one of the losses coming by two points against premiership favourites Penrith.
