Turbo to charge ahead in 2023
TOM Trbojevic has warned Manly’s rivals they can expect an even better ‘Turbo’ in 2023 as the superstar fullback prepares to make his long-awaited return to the NRL after nearly nine months on the sidelines.
Injuries have become an alltoo-familiar hurdle for the representative star over his career, with the 26-year-old managing just 44 NRL appearances in the past four seasons.
Incredibly, he was still able to win the Dally M Medal in 2021 despite playing just 15 regular season matches, before hamstring troubles and then a shocking shoulder injury crippled his 2022 campaign.
The Sea Eagles never recovered with him out of the side – although there were other factors at play including the Pride jersey debacle – but they’ve got their Ferrari back in the garage and he’s ready to hit top gear.
Another hamstring setback in the pre-season could have written off those plans, but a stint with specialist Bill Knowles in the US has his body and mind in the right shape ahead of next week’s opener against Canterbury.
“That’s the plan,” Trbojevic replied when asked if fans could expect an even better version of the flashy fullback in 2023. “You always want to get better and I took a lot away from what I did overseas and will keep incorporating into the training program.”
Trbojevic has made slight tweaks to his running style after consulting with Knowles, and while he knows it may take a while for him to perfect those changes, he says he’s in perfect shape ahead of Saturday week’s blockbuster at 4 Pines Park.
“Initially (it was) very hard. But I am very lucky I get to practise it every day, it is my job,” he said.