Much-loved Trbojevic wants to stay
RUGBY LEAGUE: He will be one of the hottest commodities on the NRL open market come November 1, but Manly star Tom Trbojevic says he can’t imagine himself leaving the northern beaches.
In a statement that will be music to the ears of the Sea Eagles’ faithful and coach Des Hasler, the NSW and Australian outside back has played down the prospect of leaving the “insular peninsula”.
Trbojevic, 22, as well as brother Jake, 25, will come off contract at the end of the 2020 season, meaning he will be able to sign with rival clubs from October 31 this year.
The Trbojevic brothers have become synonymous with Manly and it seems inconceivable they would ever leave.
However their predecessors, brothers Brett and Glenn Stewart, were also widely expected to be Sea Eagles for life, before Glenn was forced to South Sydney in 2015 and finished his career in France and England.
A Mona Vale junior and Manly to the core, Trbojevic said he hadn’t started contract negotiations but couldn’t imagine pulling on another jersey.
“I haven’t really talked to the club, it hasn’t even crossed my mind,” he said. “It’s still a long way away. I’ve still got two more seasons at the club.
“I couldn’t imagine it (playing elsewhere). When we cross that path, we’ll see what happens.”
Trbojevic is expected to miss the opening two rounds after injuring a hamstring in the Sea Eagles’ trial loss to Cronulla on February 23.
He is taking a cautious approach with his recovery for fear of aggravating the problem and missing a chunk of the start of the season.
“I’ve never done one before,” Trbojevic said.