LIVE: Joey’s massive ’18-point’ Turbo call

The Manly Sea Eagles are an 18-point better side when their superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic is on the field.

That’s the blunt assessment from Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns who believes the imminent return of the club talisman is set to have Manly on track for a huge upset over the Titans this afternoon.

Trbojevic will make his long-awaited return after injuring himself ahead of the season amid much conjecture after footage of the fullback surfaced of him racing a punter down Manly’s Corso on a night out.

While the Trbojevic insists he did not sustain his injury during those antics, his return comes at a perfect time for the Sea Eagles who are hot off notching their first win of the season against the Warriors last weekend.

Johns believes the return of the local junior will make Manly an 18-point better side week-in, week-out.

“It’s huge. He adds so much to their game, gives them so much confidence, he combines well with Daly Cherry-Evans and as well as Kieran Foran,” Johns told Wide World of Sports’ Immortal behaviour.

“I see this as up to as much as an 18 point turnaround for Manly. He scores and he stops them. I think they’ll be winning. I guarantee this week he’ll make such a difference, they’ll beat the Titans and I dare say Turbo will be man of the match.

“He’s just an incredible player…and I saw him run through The Corso, so he’s still got his speed.”

In the past two seasons, the Sea Eagles have won almost 75 per cent of their matches when Trbojevic has taken the field, compared with a less than one in three record (9 from 32) when he has been sidelined.

On paper, they are also a four points better side in attack, and 10 points better side in defence with Turbo in the team – which is not far off Johns’ assessment of an 18-point turnaround when Trbojevic is on field.