Teammate set to be axed as Manly plan to backflip on Tom Trbojevic switch

Yahoo

6 days ago

Tom Trbojevic admits he's 'disappointed' to be shifted out of fullback at Manly, but insists he is happy to do what's best for the team. Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold has made a number of changes for Friday night's home game against the Wests Tigers, with winger Jason Saab axed as part of a new-look lineup.
Young gun Lehi Hopoate is set to wear the No.1 jersey that Turbo has had a mortgage on for years, with the shift to centre pushing Reuben Garrick back onto the wing at the expense of Saab, who's paid the price for some inconsistent form. Seibold is under pressure after two consecutive losses that's seen a Manly side tipped to contend for the top-four earlier in the season, fall further out of the eight.
Hopoate has been a revelation at fullback when filling in for Trbojevic, who has had another injury-plagued season for the Sea Eagles. Even when the Manly superstar has featured, he's looked nowhere near his best and the dynamic running game that has so often terrorised defences has been sadly lacking.
Following reports of crisis meetings at the club and one-on-one player reviews with the squad, Seibold has decided to shuffle the deck in the hopes of snapping their current form slump. And Turbo concedes it's difficult being moved out of his favourite position, but will happily do whatever the coach feels is best for the team.
"I'd be lying to say it wasn't disappointing to hear that ... I've played fullback for a long time at this club and I love playing that position but for now I've come to terms with it," he told Nine's 100% Footy on Monday night. "I completely get where the decision's coming from, having someone like Lehi (Hopoate) there who's playing exceptional footy this year so I completely understand and I'm really excited for the opportunity to play centre this week."
RELATED:
Devastating blow for Knights as young gun could miss rest of season
State of Origin player floated for immediate NRL club switch
Billy Slater calls out glaring truth as NRL makes call on Origin 3 ref
Turbo has excelled at centre for the Blues at State of Origin level and was close to Australia's best playing there for the Kangaroos in last year's Pacific Championships triumph. He concedes the move is based around reducing his workload from fullback in the hopes of keeping him on the park more often. But Manly CEO Tony Mestrov suggested the shift to a 'roaming role' at centre was not a long-term move for Turbo.
"We're just trying to get some hands on the ball for Tom and change it up a bit," Mestrov told AAP. "The idea is we just want him to regain his confidence and start playing again. There is no doubt he is one of the best fullbacks in the world and we will see him go back there.
"They say a change is as a good as a holiday. I think it's just to enact him, everyone knows what he can do. I'm pretty excited to see what he can do (at centre) ... We've seen what he has done for Australia and NSW and what he can do. He will have the same roaming role."
Seibold's shake-up at Manly came off the back of the club's poor form and in the wake of growing fan discontent. The Manly coach reportedly held seven-minute meetings with each player of the squad and while the brutally honest sessions didn't go down well with everyone, Turbo suggested it was the kick up the back-side the team needed.
"I think after any honesty session like that there's going to be people not feeling too great about themselves, I'm included in that," Trbojevic said. "Some things you hear from a coach you don't love hearing but you need to hear them. I think everyone's come to terms with what they've been told and now that's about going and actioning it, that's what you need to do."
with AAP