Turbo, V’landys both ‘saviours’ of rugby league
ONE rescued rugby league off the field, the other saved the game on it.
Tom Trbojevic’s scintillating season for Manly has been rated alongside the seemingly incomparable work to save rugby league undertaken by ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys.
That is the opinion of Manly coowner and respected Australian businessman Rick Penn.
V’landys has again kept rugby league moving this season through the pandemic, allowing Trbojevic to stun fans with a season such as has rarely, if ever, been seen before.
Penn said V’landys and Trbojevic were the two most prominent figures this year and he couldn’t split them in terms of influence.
“To me, in what he has done for rugby league, Tom is right up there with Peter V’landys,” Penn said.
“I’ve got so much time for Peter V’landys. What Peter has done for rugby league is amazing. What Peter has done for the management of rugby league, well, Tom is right up there as a player of rugby league.
“As a sports administrator, we would not have rugby league operating today without Peter V’landys, given what we have gone through with Covid. He has been magnificent, just magnificent.
“What Tom has done for rugby league, and for the branding of Manly, he has been just wonderful.
He is one of the greatest sportspeople I have ever seen, just the way he reads a game.
“If anyone was going to motivate someone to come to a game then it’s Tom. And you don’t have to necessarily be a Manly supporter. Tom is helping rugby league supporters love the game.
“He has hit the highest level there possibly is. I see Tom and Peter as outstanding people. I’m so proud of Tom. He doesn’t put himself out there, he is so humble.”