Manly fans were reminded on Friday night that Tom Trbojevic will likely finish his career in the centres – and “Turbo” is happy to make the positional switch sooner rather than later following the performance of Sea Eagles’ teammate and Tongan fullback Lehi Hopoate.
Hopoate was excellent in the custodian role during Friday night’s Test – and Trbojevic was even better at right centre for Australia as they won 18-0 in front of more than 33,000 fans.
Before the game, Trbojevic received a painkilling injection in his right shoulder, which caused him plenty of discomfort during Manly’s finals campaign, but he quickly adjusted to the centres, scoring a runaway intercept try in the first half, posing a constant threat in attack and even inflicting some damage in defence.
Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold has been open to moving Trbojevic to the centres in a bid to preserve his body, and the rise of Hopoate, who only made his debut this season, will give him plenty to think about over the summer. Tolu Koula, Tonga’s 18th man, is another Manly No.1 option.
Trbojevic was one of the Kangaroos’ best in his first game in the green and gold since 2018, and said he had never contemplated giving up the opportunity to represent his country.
Welcome back: Tom Trbojevic scores for the Kangaroos.Credit: NRL Photos
He was also grateful his return to the international arena featured Manly teammates Hopoate, Haumole Olakau’atu – Tonga’s best – and Taniela Paseka.
As for the eventual move to the centres in clubland, Trbojevic told this masthead: “I still think I’m more effective at fullback at Manly, but I’m always happy to play wherever is best for the team, and I do know Lehi will be something special.
“Lehi was very good on Friday night; he was calm and turned up at the right place at the right time – he must have saved three or four tries on Friday night. And he’s still only young.
“I was just glad to get back out there and contribute.
“Playing for Australia is the highest honour in the game, and when the specialist told me I didn’t need surgery on my shoulder, this was something I definitely wanted to do, especially given I hadn’t done it in a while.
“I got the shoulder needled before kick-off – you never feel it during the game – and I felt much better because I had those few weeks off. The shoulder simply needs rest, which is what I’ll get again after these games [the Pacific Championships].”
Hopoate was sin binned in the second half, but Tonga coach Kristian Woolf praised the son of John Hopoate, saying: “We put him there for a reason, we trusted him, and if you watch him in the NRL, he’s one of those guys who just comes up with plays – he plays a lot bigger than he looks and is brave every week.”
The Kangaroos and the Jillaroos, who thumped Papau New Guinea 84-0, spent the day together in Brisbane on Saturday before they fly to Christchurch on Tuesday ahead of Sunday’s clash against New Zealand.
The Pacific Championships is Live and free on Channel 9 & 9Now
