Latest news with #Trbojevic
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Sea Eagle Trbojevic not thinking about fullback return
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."
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Manly make next Trbojevic centre call after Tigers win
Manly will leave Tom Trbojevic in the centres for at least one more week after the Sea Eagles star helped them to a much-needed 28-10 win over Wests Tigers. In his first game since being shifted from fullback, Trbojevic came alive either side of halftime and had a hand in two tries at Brookvale Oval. Manly were far from their best, but after a fortnight of spotlight on coach Anthony Seibold they are back in the top eight following a win the hosts desperately needed. The result also consigned the Tigers to their sixth straight loss, who desperately missed Jarome Luai in attack after he was ruled out on gameday. Adding to the Tigers' concerns was a concussion for Api Koroisau, which has the potential to stifle any chance of fellow hooker Tallyn Da Silva leaving before the June 30 deadline. But all eyes were always going to be on Trbojevic and the Manly coach's box on Friday night. 'Turbo' got the ball in good shape just once in a scoreless 39 minutes, when he was whacked by Jeral Skelton and coughed up possession. But when the Sea Eagles finally utilised the fullback-turned-centre again, the game started to turn. The only first-half try came through 28-year-old Trbojevic, who got the ball 10 metres out and put Jason Saab over to score. Trbojevic then began to roam in the second half, combining with new No.1 Lehi Hopoate for a Reuben Garrick try when he roamed from right centre to the left. Another Manly try came down the left after Trbojevic had again created numbers early in the set, before Luke Brooks and Daly Cherry-Evans helped Tolu Koula score. Manly have been adamant all week Trbojevic's move was a short-term one, designed to put confidence back in the 2021 Dally M Medallist's game. The Sea Eagles have South Sydney next Sunday, before another bye. "We'll do it again next week and then we'll have a rethink after the bye," Seibold said after the win. "Everyone has been telling me for the past 18 months you need to move Turbo to centre, and then I do it I get criticised. "I just want him to enjoy his footy. "It was great to see him get across and have a bit of freedom, he didn't have to worry about organising our defence." There were still some questions over Trbojevic's defence, with the visitors' first try coming when Adam Douiehi put Alex Seyfarth past him and into a gaping hole. Hopoate had his toughest half of the season wearing No.1, dropping two kicks after being virtually unblemished while playing their previously, while Manly also fear prop Nathan Brown suffered a possible season-ending biceps rupture. While the Tigers are clearly an improved outfit, they have now lost six in a row and will likely face the Sydney Roosters next week without Koroisau and Luai. Da Silva scored late out of dummy-half but looks likely to leave the club by year's end, while Latu Fainu lacked spark without Luai next to him. Luai was hospitalised with a boil infection, but the Tigers expect him to be fit for State of Origin III on July 9. "We were left in a bit of a scramble with Jarome pulling out this morning," coach Benji Marshall said. "We didn't have enough experience in those positions today to get it done. We got dominated in field position. "The last few weeks have been really good, today was a step backwards." Manly will leave Tom Trbojevic in the centres for at least one more week after the Sea Eagles star helped them to a much-needed 28-10 win over Wests Tigers. In his first game since being shifted from fullback, Trbojevic came alive either side of halftime and had a hand in two tries at Brookvale Oval. Manly were far from their best, but after a fortnight of spotlight on coach Anthony Seibold they are back in the top eight following a win the hosts desperately needed. The result also consigned the Tigers to their sixth straight loss, who desperately missed Jarome Luai in attack after he was ruled out on gameday. Adding to the Tigers' concerns was a concussion for Api Koroisau, which has the potential to stifle any chance of fellow hooker Tallyn Da Silva leaving before the June 30 deadline. But all eyes were always going to be on Trbojevic and the Manly coach's box on Friday night. 'Turbo' got the ball in good shape just once in a scoreless 39 minutes, when he was whacked by Jeral Skelton and coughed up possession. But when the Sea Eagles finally utilised the fullback-turned-centre again, the game started to turn. The only first-half try came through 28-year-old Trbojevic, who got the ball 10 metres out and put Jason Saab over to score. Trbojevic then began to roam in the second half, combining with new No.1 Lehi Hopoate for a Reuben Garrick try when he roamed from right centre to the left. Another Manly try came down the left after Trbojevic had again created numbers early in the set, before Luke Brooks and Daly Cherry-Evans helped Tolu Koula score. Manly have been adamant all week Trbojevic's move was a short-term one, designed to put confidence back in the 2021 Dally M Medallist's game. The Sea Eagles have South Sydney next Sunday, before another bye. "We'll do it again next week and then we'll have a rethink after the bye," Seibold said after the win. "Everyone has been telling me for the past 18 months you need to move Turbo to centre, and then I do it I get criticised. "I just want him to enjoy his footy. "It was great to see him get across and have a bit of freedom, he didn't have to worry about organising our defence." There were still some questions over Trbojevic's defence, with the visitors' first try coming when Adam Douiehi put Alex Seyfarth past him and into a gaping hole. Hopoate had his toughest half of the season wearing No.1, dropping two kicks after being virtually unblemished while playing their previously, while Manly also fear prop Nathan Brown suffered a possible season-ending biceps rupture. While the Tigers are clearly an improved outfit, they have now lost six in a row and will likely face the Sydney Roosters next week without Koroisau and Luai. Da Silva scored late out of dummy-half but looks likely to leave the club by year's end, while Latu Fainu lacked spark without Luai next to him. Luai was hospitalised with a boil infection, but the Tigers expect him to be fit for State of Origin III on July 9. "We were left in a bit of a scramble with Jarome pulling out this morning," coach Benji Marshall said. "We didn't have enough experience in those positions today to get it done. We got dominated in field position. "The last few weeks have been really good, today was a step backwards." Manly will leave Tom Trbojevic in the centres for at least one more week after the Sea Eagles star helped them to a much-needed 28-10 win over Wests Tigers. In his first game since being shifted from fullback, Trbojevic came alive either side of halftime and had a hand in two tries at Brookvale Oval. Manly were far from their best, but after a fortnight of spotlight on coach Anthony Seibold they are back in the top eight following a win the hosts desperately needed. The result also consigned the Tigers to their sixth straight loss, who desperately missed Jarome Luai in attack after he was ruled out on gameday. Adding to the Tigers' concerns was a concussion for Api Koroisau, which has the potential to stifle any chance of fellow hooker Tallyn Da Silva leaving before the June 30 deadline. But all eyes were always going to be on Trbojevic and the Manly coach's box on Friday night. 'Turbo' got the ball in good shape just once in a scoreless 39 minutes, when he was whacked by Jeral Skelton and coughed up possession. But when the Sea Eagles finally utilised the fullback-turned-centre again, the game started to turn. The only first-half try came through 28-year-old Trbojevic, who got the ball 10 metres out and put Jason Saab over to score. Trbojevic then began to roam in the second half, combining with new No.1 Lehi Hopoate for a Reuben Garrick try when he roamed from right centre to the left. Another Manly try came down the left after Trbojevic had again created numbers early in the set, before Luke Brooks and Daly Cherry-Evans helped Tolu Koula score. Manly have been adamant all week Trbojevic's move was a short-term one, designed to put confidence back in the 2021 Dally M Medallist's game. The Sea Eagles have South Sydney next Sunday, before another bye. "We'll do it again next week and then we'll have a rethink after the bye," Seibold said after the win. "Everyone has been telling me for the past 18 months you need to move Turbo to centre, and then I do it I get criticised. "I just want him to enjoy his footy. "It was great to see him get across and have a bit of freedom, he didn't have to worry about organising our defence." There were still some questions over Trbojevic's defence, with the visitors' first try coming when Adam Douiehi put Alex Seyfarth past him and into a gaping hole. Hopoate had his toughest half of the season wearing No.1, dropping two kicks after being virtually unblemished while playing their previously, while Manly also fear prop Nathan Brown suffered a possible season-ending biceps rupture. While the Tigers are clearly an improved outfit, they have now lost six in a row and will likely face the Sydney Roosters next week without Koroisau and Luai. Da Silva scored late out of dummy-half but looks likely to leave the club by year's end, while Latu Fainu lacked spark without Luai next to him. Luai was hospitalised with a boil infection, but the Tigers expect him to be fit for State of Origin III on July 9. "We were left in a bit of a scramble with Jarome pulling out this morning," coach Benji Marshall said. "We didn't have enough experience in those positions today to get it done. We got dominated in field position. "The last few weeks have been really good, today was a step backwards."
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
NRL Tom Trbojevic cops a huge Wests Tigers hit in brutal act in centres for Manly Sea Eagles
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Prior to Friday night's 18-point win over the Wests Tigers, Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic said he was 'excited' at the prospect of playing in the centres for just the second time since 2017. One of the great fullbacks in the modern game, 'Turbo' was shifted to right centre by Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold to allow Lehi Hopoate to move into the No. 1 jumper. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. While the home side got the job done 28-10 at 4 Pines Park, just 11 minutes in the 28-year-old Trbojevic may have been regretting the decision to be so accommodating. With Manly attacking the Tigers' line, Daly Cherry-Evans found Hopoate, who moved the ball to Trbojevic as the home team chased the game's first points. But Tigers winger Jeral Skelton had other ideas, lining Trbojevic up and landing a crunching tackle that brought everyone watching out of their seats. Watch the big hit in the video player above Jeral Skelton lined Tom Trbojevic with a big hit. Photo: Fox Sports 'Oh Tom! Tom has caught a beauty there,' Andrew Voss screamed on Fox League. 'Jeral Skelton, he's knocked himself about but he's taken out the main man. Call him the sniper.' Cooper Cronk added: 'Skelton has launched himself into Tom Trbojevic, rattles the cage of the Manly centre. 'I think he's also rattled himself because he's come up ginger. That was a big shot.' Voss then followed up: 'It was Kamikaze-like. I don't know if I've seen Tom get hit like that in his career. 'Welcome to the centres Tom.' Trbojevic had no chance to defend himself. Photo: Fox Sports While a sore Trbojevic was able to battle on, Skelton did indeed come off second best, with the independent doctor calling for a category 2 Head Injury Assessment test. But plenty of footy fans took to social media to comment on the brutal hit. The NRL News account on X wrote: 'Jeral Skelton puts a bellringer on Tommy Turbo but he's the one that has to come off for a HIA.' Sports journalist Lachlan Jeffery tweeted: 'That was a Kamikaze tackle by Jeral Skelton.' Señor Mick offered simply: 'SPLAT!!!!' Others were left questioning the decision to shift the injury-prone Trbojevic from his favoured position. Trbojevic has spent most of his career in the No. 1 jumper. (Photo by) Racing reporter Neil Evans declared: 'What a ridiculous decision to play Turbo in the centres!! 'Give him some freedom' Spoonbold said thru the week .. ffs there's 10 times more freedom at the back. Lol.' X account @OGHustle_Rugby asked: 'You'd stick Turbo on the wing or FB wouldn't you?? Let's play Mr Injury in the centres. Nice one you knuckles.' In a poor first half of footy, the Sea Eagles finally cracked the Tigers' tryline in the final minute and Turbo was heavily involved. With all the play down the left side of the field, Manly was repeatedly repelled by Wests' defensive line. Jason Saab finally opened the scoring for the Sea Eagles. (Photo by) 'Tom's getting a cold out at right centre,' Voss quipped. 'He's watching on with binoculars.' On the last tackle, Trbojevic finally got his chance, taking a cut-out ball from Luke Brooks and laying off a superb flick pass to Jason Saab who did the rest, scoring in the corner. 'Tom offloads to Saab, finally Tom gets a touch, and it's a golden one for the first try in the final minute of the opening half,' Voss said. Reuben Garrick nailed the sideline conversion for a 6-0 lead at the break. Leading up to the game, Trbojevic conceded he had no idea whether his move to centre would be permanent. Trbojevic's yardage has been solid in recent weeks, but he'd broken just five tackles in his past six games leading into Friday night after busting 83 in 20 matches last season. X SUBSCRIBER ONLY 'I had a lot of input from the coaches, but we've got someone like Lehi there who's very good at fullback,' Trbojevic said on Monday. 'I'm not unfamiliar with playing centre, I've done it before. It'll be a different challenge for me and one I'm excited for. 'It (the move) wasn't really on my mind, but the way that Lehi has been playing (made it easier) and I haven't been playing my best footy. 'It is what it is. I just love playing footy, and playing centre is something else on a footy field and it's no different to me. I just have to go out there and give it a go.' He may have had second thoughts after Skelton's crunching tackle, but he ran out the half well and looms as a key figure in the second 40 minutes. Manly then took control of the match after halftime, building a 16-0 lead with 30 minutes remaining. Benji Marshall's Tigers briefly had some momentum after Alex Seyfarth's 51st minute try, but the Sea Eagles regained control to record a comfortable win. – with NewsWire Originally published as 'Splat!': Tom Trbojevic cops a huge Wests Tigers hit in brutal act
7NEWS
6 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Manly's plan for Tom Trbojevic revealed after move to centre
Manly plan to use Tom Trbojevic's centre shift as a short-term booster, with CEO Tony Mestrov revealing the Sea Eagles intend to move him back to fullback. Trbojevic trained at right centre for Manly on Monday morning, as part of a new-look backline that features Lehi Hopoate in the fullback role. Under pressure after two poor losses, coach Anthony Seibold has dropped Jason Saab and will move Reuben Garrick out to the right wing against Wests Tigers on Friday. Trbojevic conceded at a Manly Fast Ferry partnership announcement that his form had been down this year, with Hopoate impressing at No.1 while he was out injured. But Mestrov also said that the intention was for the 2021 Dally M Medallist to return to fullback, where he is one of the NRL's most dangerous players when fit. '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.' Trbojevic said in the pre-season he had given no thought to moving out of the No.1 jersey, having finished 2024 on a high. The 28-year-old said it had also not been on his mind in recent weeks before this week's move, after a year in which he has battled niggling injuries. 'It (the move) wasn't really on my mind, but the way that Lehi has been playing (made it easier) and I haven't been playing my best footy,' Trbojevic said. 'I had a lot of input from the coaches, but we've got someone like Lehi there who's very good at fullback. 'I'm not unfamiliar with playing centre, I've done it before. 'It'll be a different challenge for me and one I'm excited for. 'I just love playing footy, and playing centre is something else on a footy field and it's no different to me. I just have to go out there and give it a go.' Trbojevic's move comes after Seibold held seven-minute meetings with all players last week, highlighting areas they needed to improve. Manly have a crucial fortnight ahead with home games against Wests Tigers and South Sydney after back-to-back losses to Newcastle and Gold Coast before a bye. Trbojevic's contract has also been a point of discussion, with the representative star reaffirming his stance on Monday that he never wants to play against Manly. The local junior is off contract at the end of next year, with Manly keen to extend him before he would be able to be approached by other clubs on November 1. Trbojevic has scored two hat-tricks when playing right centre for NSW, but has only played there once for Manly since 2017, on return from injury last year. 'It's a different look, a different way to play footy and a different challenge,' Trbojevic said. 'There's more of a defensive aspect to it in the front line, but you can make it your own world as well. 'You can play differently, and that's what I enjoy about it.'
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
How Tom Trbojevic really felt about giving up Manly No.1 jumper
Pressed on whether it took him a while to get over the news, Trbojevic said: 'Yeah, but we don't have a while in this game. I've had many conversations in the past week with Seibs and the staff about it. I've come to terms with it, and it's about moving forward now. 'Having a kind of stop-start year, it doesn't build confidence. You only get confidence going out and playing consistent footy. I've just got to focus on that. 'It's been a really frustrating year for me so far. It's quite hard [to deal with], but that's all right. 'Every man and his dog has a comment about how I am and how I feel. 'I think half the time people say I look injured when I don't play well, which is kind of what it's come to. 'I get it. Is it frustrating? Yes. But I get it. Like last game, there was a report saying I wasn't 100 per cent, but I was fine. 'I'm happy to do what's best for the team. I'm not bigger than the club.' There are few – if any – better fullbacks in the game when Trbojevic is fit and firing. Who can forget his 2021 season when he won the Dally M Medal playing just 18 games? His move allows Hopoate to slot into the custodian role, with Reuben Garrick, who has been vocal about wanting to play centre – and has done so for the past 18 months – reverting to right wing. Manly are coming off losses to lowly Newcastle and the Gold Coast, which led to speculation about Seibold's future. 'That's just all external noise because of the fact we're losing footy games. We just need to win games and then it'll go away,' Trbojevic said about the coach. 'We're a club that should be playing finals footy, and at this stage we're not in the top eight. We need to change that. It's a poor reflection on all of us. We're the only ones who can turn it around.' Mestrov, who announced a partnership with Manly Fast Ferry on Monday afternoon, said of Seibold, who is contracted until the end of 2027: 'At the end of the day, Seibs is 100 per cent safe, and we're in the battle together. The board, myself, we're backing Seibs. Loading 'We're only just out of the top eight. We know we've got a good footy team – we know we've got a top-four side. We've lost our last two games against lower sides, which is unacceptable. 'We had some soul-searching and tough conversations during the bye week, and Seibs and I expect a better performance on Friday. 'Seibs has two more years after this, and I expect him to see that out.'
