Trbojevic racing the clock for Origin gig

MANLY superstar Tom Trbojevic will need to return to football – and quickly – or face having to forfeit his place in the NSW State of Origin side.

Trbojevic will have missed 17 weeks this season through a wretched hamstring injury by the time Origin I is played on November 4, probably in Adelaide. And that is provided Trbojevic returns in Round 17 against Wests Tigers.

A comeback in Round 18 may be enough to convince the NSW coaching staff but a return in either Round 19 or 20 may force the Blues to reluctantly consider other options at right centre.

It is believed St George Illawarra’s Zac Lomax, Brisbane’s Kotoni Staggs and Roosters veteran Josh Morris could be candidates.

Trbojevic is targeting a Round 17 comeback but Sea Eagles head physio James Rahme said: “It’s out of our control and out of Tom’s control, unfortunately.”

News Corp also understands NSW players will enter a COVID-enforced bubble for the entire Origin series.

NSW coach Brad Fittler, team manager Peter Parr and NSWRL chief executive David Trodden will meet on Tuesday to discuss the logistics of this year’s series. And then there will be a phone hook-up between the NRL, NSWRL and QRL on Friday.

Blues officials will start next week searching for venues for the team to be based.

One option would be to stay at Sydney Olympic Park and use the nearby NSWRL Centre of Excellence for training. Other possibilities could see the team shift out of Sydney.

Another option would be splitting the preparation between being out of Sydney and then moving back into the Sydney Olympic Park precinct closer to each game.

The team would use charter flights to fly to Adelaide and Brisbane, leaving and landing at Bankstown. Both teams will fly in and fly out on game days.