Tom Trbojevic has returned from America with a new method to manage his troublesome hamstrings and a career at the crossroads.
With his star fullback fresh off the plane from Philadelphia, where he worked with renowned reconditioning specialist Bill Knowles, coach Anthony Seibold rubbished the idea floated by former club stalwart Peter Peters that Manly would be better off without Trbojevic.
It wouldn't matter if Trbojevic's hamstrings were made out of paper or even if he had no hamstrings at all – just like anybody who has seen Trbojevic at his best, Seibold knows Manly will be far better off doing whatever they can to cure what ails the 2021 Dally M winner rather than doing anything else.
When their fullback is fit, all things are possible for the Sea Eagles. What might happen without him doesn't bear thinking about.
Over the past four seasons, Trbojevic has only played more than half a year's worth of football once due to mainly hamstring problems as well as a shoulder dislocation in 2022.
The one year he didn't was the season he scored 28 tries in 18 games and looked every bit the generational talent he's always been. In Trbojevic, the Sea Eagles have money in the bank – they just haven't been able to cash in.
So when Trbojevic tore his hamstring again in December, the Sea Eagles moved quickly.
Instead of walking the avenue until their heads felt like stone, Manly sent Trbojevic to the streets of Philadelphia and to Knowles.
The trip to America wasn't about recovering from a single injury – Seibold made a point of using the word "reconditioning" instead of "rehabilitation" – but rather making what changes the club and Trbojevic could that will make the star fullback's troubles a thing of the past.
"Going over there was nothing to do with a timeline, it was all about putting in the best things for myself to prevent injury," Trbojevic said.
"He wasn't going to tell me when I could and couldn't play, it's more what I can do to be a better athlete and be more sustainable long-term.
"You walk around and everyone askes 'how's the hammy' but you go over there and he's not so much worried about the hammy, he's worried about making you a better athlete and how you can improve your athletic performance.
"Injuries come because there's some chink in the armour, everything isn't working together so if you improve your athletic performance to have everything working in a symphony – that's what he says, that's one of his things – that side of it definitely gives you confidence in the approach."
There's nothing more Manly or Trbojevic can do to fix the problem and their work may well pay off. These things can be done and chronic injuries can be left behind.
Before James Tedesco became the best player in the world he was just a promising fullback with crook knees. Benji Marshall's shoulders were once held together by strapping tape, good intentions and not much else but those memories are just about buried beneath a mountain of highlights.
But they both cured themselves of their injury bugs far earlier in their careers. Trbojevic is 26, far from the years where his form will decline, but he's also about to begin his ninth year of first grade.
He should be talked about in the same breath as Tedesco, which is to say as one of the best players of his time. That can still happen, but it has to start happening now.
Time is on Trbojevic's side but the fact of the matter is he's missed far, far more football than he's played in recent years, and if player and club are to see the best of things that has to change.
One of Knowles' key principles is the idea of "owning the ground". Considering how dominant Trbojevic can be and has been, it's a good mantra for him.
"His big thing is about being strong through the ground – owning the ground," Trbojevic said.
"I don't know if it makes much sense to you, but it's about being strong through ground contact and being strong in the positions you find yourself in in a game.
"Whatever position you find yourself in, you have be strong in it.
"A lot of his drilling is around that. Being strong through the ground is the best way to put it, it's a bit more technical than that and it goes a bit over my head sometimes, but that's the best way to put it."
Trbojevic is adamant he'll be fit for Manly's season opener against Canterbury. He won't play in any pre-season matches. Seibold confirmed that at least a few of the Sea Eagles stars will do the same.
It makes sense for the club to keep their powder a little dry. One-man teams don't really exist in rugby league but Manly with and without Trbojevic comes about the closest as any team will.
For the Sea Eagles sake, they'll be praying he can own the ground once again.
