The last time Tom Trbojevic was in Las Vegas, he left with two dollars in his pocket – and he couldn’t have been happier.
After suffering a season-ending torn pectoral playing for NSW in State of Origin II last year, the Manly fullback had time on his hands.
He visited Los Angeles then Las Vegas with Sea Eagles sponsor Shaw and Partners and noticed that one of their ambassadors, Olympic paddler Jim Walker, had a rare US two-dollar bill in the clear case of his mobile phone.
“What’s that about?” Trbojevic asked.
Tommy Trbojevic’s American two-dollar bill in the clear case of his mobile phone.
Walker explained: “They rarely circulate in the US and are considered lucky … Here, take mine.”
Trbojevic declined but sourced his own two-dollar bill online and now carries one in the back of his mobile case, too. He hasn’t suffered an injury since.
“Don’t say that!” he jokingly growls when I mention it, touching the wooden table next to us.
Trbojevic is banking on his luck turning in Las Vegas when he makes his comeback against South Sydney at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday (AEDT). In the City of Second Chances, he’ll do anything to avoid adding to the litany of injuries that have punctuated his career.
When I ask him to reflect on his nine seasons in the NRL, he takes his time answering. On one hand, he’s won Dally Ms, Origins for NSW, and World Cups for Australia. On the other, the tool of his trade – his body – keeps failing him.
“It’s a hard question to answer because it hasn’t been an easy career by any means,” he says. “Where do I feel like I’m at? I have a lot to prove. People doubt me and it motivates me. I’m in my 10th year and haven’t had much success at Manly. I understand why people have doubts around what I’ve done in the game.”
During his time off, Trbojevic also put time – and his face – to a new NFT virtual reality game called The Dream Channel, which will be launched the day before the double-header in Vegas.
In a similar vein to the online game Grand Theft Auto, “Tommy Turbo” is a core AI-generated avatar living in a virtual combat underworld. He has signature fight moves that include “dump-tackles” and other NRL-inspired rock’n’roll wrestling moves that win coins.
The game also has a “sleep” mode that allows avatars to explore a virtual world at night; going on dates, getting in fights, BASE jumping, and other adventures. The idea was conceived with his business partner and mentor, Peter Driscoll, and Dream Channel creator Jonny Peters.
“It’s wild stuff,” Trbojevic says. “The idea of it is it’s a virtual reality game in which you get different avatars where you can go in, fight each other – a virtual PlayStation game really.”
Tom Trbojevic suffered a season-ending torn pectoral playing for NSW in State of Origin II last year.Credit: Getty
If only managing his body was as easy as managing a virtual creation of himself.
Whenever a reporter asks about his injuries, you notice the discernible change in Trbojevic’s mood. Is he tired of being asked about his body?
“I am but I’ve learnt to accept it,” he says. “People are like, ‘How’s your hammy?’ I’m not coming back from a hammy injury, so why are you asking me about it? I cop it about my hammy all the time. That and the Corso sprint …”
Ah, the infamous Corso sprint. In February 2021, footage emerged of Trbojevic racing a member of the public down the Manly Corso. He injured his hamstring later after slipping in the shower, but the video didn’t go down well with his club.
Trbojevic won the Dally M Medal in 2021.Credit: Getty
Ironically, he ended up having his best season, dominating Origin and being crowned Dally M Player of the Year. In many minds, this was it – the Tommy Turbo era in which he was the game’s dominant force – but his body kept breaking down.
“I know the interest in my injuries isn’t coming from a bad place,” he says. “Early in my career, I was getting injuries, but I wasn’t treating my body as best I could, so it made sense. A lot of the decisions I make now are about being the best player and teammate I can be. When you put yourself in the best position to play footy and your body still fails you, it’s frustrating.”
You can hear the frustration in his voice as he tells you this. It got so bad he was almost too scared to train.
“I look back on last year when I hurt my hammy in the pre-season then came back,” he says. “I was consumed by the media, by my hamstrings … I didn’t want to train. You buy into all the talk and you worry that it’s going to happen again. It’s not how you should approach your game.”
Tom Trbojevic at Sea Eagles pre-season training earlier this month.Credit: Brook Mitchell/SMH
Trbojevic buys into the belief that a negative mindset can manifest physical injury.
“That’s the thing: you have to get out of that mindset,” he says. “It’s happened, so what’s next? There’s no point looking back. I’ve gotten better with it.”
Work with a sports psych has helped him move away from focusing on outcomes and just his pure joy from playing. “But that’s hard,” he says. “Your weeks are defined by your result, whether you win or not.”
Which brings us to the Sea Eagles, whose supporters are growing as frustrated with Trbojevic’s injuries as the man himself. In late 2022, as former coach Des Hasler was pushed out of the door following the rainbow jersey saga, there were reports that Trbojevic and his brother, Jake, wanted out.
“There was a lot in the media and I was hearing that I wasn’t wanted at the club,” Trbojevic says. “You don’t want to be at a place where you’re not wanted and not valued, so I thought I’ll just go then. Once I talked to the right people, I realised it was a media beat-up. I owe the club. The fans, too.”
In the City of Second Chances, he just needs a little luck.
