Sea Eagle Trbojevic not thinking about fullback return

The Advertiser

16 hours ago

Tom Trbojevic says his representative approach to playing centre can be replicated at Manly, while adamant he's not treating the move as a short-term shift.
Trbojevic had a hand in two tries in his shift back to centre on Friday night, growing in confidence in the second half as Manly beat Wests Tigers 28-10.
Coach Anthony Seibold confirmed afterwards Trbojevic would play centre again next week against South Sydney, before Manly reconsider over the bye.
The Sea Eagles have made no secret of the fact they expect Trbojevic's move from fullback to be a short-term sugar hit, aimed at freeing the 28-year-old up and getting his confidence back.
The plan would then be for Trbojevic to take the No.1 jersey back off Lehi Hopoate later this year, to have the 2021 Dally M Medallist firing at the end of the season.
But Trbojevic said he was not subscribing to that theory, refusing to look beyond his time at centre.
"I'm not thinking about what we're doing in four weeks. I'm thinking about what we're doing right now," Trbojevic said.
"They're going to work that side of it out. If I'm at centre for the rest of the year, then I'm at centre for the rest of the year. So it is what it is.
"My focus isn't to get confidence and then go back (to fullback). I'm doing my best for the team now, and that's playing centre. That's my focus.
"Winning's enjoyable. That's what this game's about. I'm happy to play anywhere.
"I enjoy fullback. I can enjoy playing centre. I haven't played front row, but I'd probably enjoy it for a little bit. If we're winning, I am happy."
Trbojevic was hardly used by the Sea Eagles for the first 39 minutes on Friday night, jammed hard by Jeral Skelton on the one occasion he got the ball in good shape.
But when the Sea Eagles gave him early ball just before halftime, Trbojevic was able to send Jason Saab over.
It was notable Trbojevic began to roam far more in the second half, moving to the left to set up one try and providing numbers there on the play before another.
The Manly favourite has done likewise when starring at centre for NSW and Australia, a point Seibold referenced in the lead up to his move to an edge.
"It's just about playing footy. It's not really a blueprint, I just kind of go out there and feel it," Trbojevic said.
"I feel like I've been able to do it pretty well. It's just giving teams a different look.
"I think I attacked pretty well. But there were a couple of defensive reads that I'm not happy with.
"But that's just part of the game. You're just going got to get better the more you do it."
Tom Trbojevic says his representative approach to playing centre can be replicated at Manly, while adamant he's not treating the move as a short-term shift.
Trbojevic had a hand in two tries in his shift back to centre on Friday night, growing in confidence in the second half as Manly beat Wests Tigers 28-10.
Coach Anthony Seibold confirmed afterwards Trbojevic would play centre again next week against South Sydney, before Manly reconsider over the bye.
The Sea Eagles have made no secret of the fact they expect Trbojevic's move from fullback to be a short-term sugar hit, aimed at freeing the 28-year-old up and getting his confidence back.
The plan would then be for Trbojevic to take the No.1 jersey back off Lehi Hopoate later this year, to have the 2021 Dally M Medallist firing at the end of the season.
But Trbojevic said he was not subscribing to that theory, refusing to look beyond his time at centre.
"I'm not thinking about what we're doing in four weeks. I'm thinking about what we're doing right now," Trbojevic said.
"They're going to work that side of it out. If I'm at centre for the rest of the year, then I'm at centre for the rest of the year. So it is what it is.
"My focus isn't to get confidence and then go back (to fullback). I'm doing my best for the team now, and that's playing centre. That's my focus.
"Winning's enjoyable. That's what this game's about. I'm happy to play anywhere.
"I enjoy fullback. I can enjoy playing centre. I haven't played front row, but I'd probably enjoy it for a little bit. If we're winning, I am happy."
Trbojevic was hardly used by the Sea Eagles for the first 39 minutes on Friday night, jammed hard by Jeral Skelton on the one occasion he got the ball in good shape.
But when the Sea Eagles gave him early ball just before halftime, Trbojevic was able to send Jason Saab over.
It was notable Trbojevic began to roam far more in the second half, moving to the left to set up one try and providing numbers there on the play before another.
The Manly favourite has done likewise when starring at centre for NSW and Australia, a point Seibold referenced in the lead up to his move to an edge.
"It's just about playing footy. It's not really a blueprint, I just kind of go out there and feel it," Trbojevic said.
"I feel like I've been able to do it pretty well. It's just giving teams a different look.
"I think I attacked pretty well. But there were a couple of defensive reads that I'm not happy with.
"But that's just part of the game. You're just going got to get better the more you do it."
Tom Trbojevic says his representative approach to playing centre can be replicated at Manly, while adamant he's not treating the move as a short-term shift.
Trbojevic had a hand in two tries in his shift back to centre on Friday night, growing in confidence in the second half as Manly beat Wests Tigers 28-10.
Coach Anthony Seibold confirmed afterwards Trbojevic would play centre again next week against South Sydney, before Manly reconsider over the bye.
The Sea Eagles have made no secret of the fact they expect Trbojevic's move from fullback to be a short-term sugar hit, aimed at freeing the 28-year-old up and getting his confidence back.
The plan would then be for Trbojevic to take the No.1 jersey back off Lehi Hopoate later this year, to have the 2021 Dally M Medallist firing at the end of the season.
But Trbojevic said he was not subscribing to that theory, refusing to look beyond his time at centre.
"I'm not thinking about what we're doing in four weeks. I'm thinking about what we're doing right now," Trbojevic said.
"They're going to work that side of it out. If I'm at centre for the rest of the year, then I'm at centre for the rest of the year. So it is what it is.
"My focus isn't to get confidence and then go back (to fullback). I'm doing my best for the team now, and that's playing centre. That's my focus.
"Winning's enjoyable. That's what this game's about. I'm happy to play anywhere.
"I enjoy fullback. I can enjoy playing centre. I haven't played front row, but I'd probably enjoy it for a little bit. If we're winning, I am happy."
Trbojevic was hardly used by the Sea Eagles for the first 39 minutes on Friday night, jammed hard by Jeral Skelton on the one occasion he got the ball in good shape.
But when the Sea Eagles gave him early ball just before halftime, Trbojevic was able to send Jason Saab over.
It was notable Trbojevic began to roam far more in the second half, moving to the left to set up one try and providing numbers there on the play before another.
The Manly favourite has done likewise when starring at centre for NSW and Australia, a point Seibold referenced in the lead up to his move to an edge.
"It's just about playing footy. It's not really a blueprint, I just kind of go out there and feel it," Trbojevic said.
"I feel like I've been able to do it pretty well. It's just giving teams a different look.
"I think I attacked pretty well. But there were a couple of defensive reads that I'm not happy with.
"But that's just part of the game. You're just going got to get better the more you do it."