Manly injury concerns before season opener

Des Hasler is clinging to hope Manly's team for the NRL season opener against premiers Penrith will be intact after they suffered three injuries in an 18-16 trial loss to Canberra.

Martin Taupau, Dylan Walker and Haumole Olakau'atu all departed injured from Friday night's match in Gosford while Ben Trbojevic was also hurt late but stayed on.

The blows came just 13 days out from the season opener, as Manly let a 16-0 lead slip in the wet in their final trial match.

In a nightmare start, Taupau was injured in just the second minute when he jarred his back and looked in serious pain.

He was taken from the field after being assessed by Manly medical staff, but Hasler was insistent he could have returned.

Olakau'atu then left the field with a partial dislocation of the right elbow early in the second half, before Dylan Walker suffered an ankle injury late.

"The main one is Haumole, it's just his elbow which he subluxed," Hasler said.

"Walks will be okay and Marty is just a strained back and we took him off for precaution but he could have come back on.

"Round one for them, Haumole is the biggest problem."

Olakau'atu's injury is a concern for Manly, given they are already without second-rower Josh Schuster for the opening six rounds of the season.

Ethan Bullemor will fill one edge, while Karl Lawton will now likely fill the other with Andrew Davey an option on the bench.

Canberra earlier appeared the team with more to worry about after Jack Wighton gifted the Sea Eagles their first two tries.

He threw an intercept to create Manly's first, allowing Jason Saab to run 90 metres to score without getting out of first gear.

A Wighton error then let fellow speedster Tolu Koula loose, going 95 metres as proof Manly could lay claim to