Sea Eagles star Jake Trbojevic has pledged his future to the club in opening up on the ugly fallout from Manly’s late season fade-out after the Pride jersey saga that cost coach Des Hasler his job.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported Trbojevic moved to clarify that he and brother Tom are committed to the Manly club amid reports the star duo wanted out.
“We definitely didn’t want to [leave] – that didn’t come from us,” Trbojevic told The Sydney Morning Herald.
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“We love Manly and grew up in Manly and have another four years on our contracts with Manly.
“It’s definitely hard at times seeing your loyalty get questioned when we’ve worked really hard and we want Manly to do well. We’re two pretty passionate guys and that’s pretty tough.
“Obviously, the last seven games were frustrating. I think that’s frustrating for anyone – we’re in the (finals) mix there and we dropped the last seven.
“We really like Des, so it’s hard seeing him go through the stuff. He’s been a really good coach for me for four years and I learned a lot off him and enjoyed playing under him … but I guess the club made the decision for a reason. So what can we do?
“Hopefully, we can turn it around. Last year wasn’t great and stuff is going to happen if you don’t make the finals.”
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Trbojevic took issue with reports he had a falling out with Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans, who he is currently on tour with as part of the Kangaroos’ World Cup bid.
“That was frustrating to hear,” Trbojevic said.
“I don’t like seeing [those reports], and I’m a really good friend of Daly’s. It’s tough to see and I try not to think about it – it is ridiculous.
“It was fine – it’s people making it awkward for us and it’s fine. We get on really well and have had a great time over here.”
Trbojevic also opened up on the Pride jersey saga and admitted he didn’t understand it at first, but wants to move on.
“At first when it first happened I didn’t understand it,” Trbojevic said.
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“I’m not religious, but like I’ve already said, I didn’t understand it until we talked to them. They have their view and I was fine with it. I understand their biggest thing is religion, my biggest thing is footy.
“The fact that we lost seven [games] after has made people keep talking about it. Why are we going to dwell on it and let one game affect us moving forward?”
The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield spoke on Sky Sports radio about the massive boost the Trbojevic brothers committing to the club will give Manly.
“Jake Trbojevic has broken his silence on the Manly business and he is happy to stay and be there for the next four years,” Rothfield said on The Big Sports Breakfast.
“Jake has been avoiding the media since Des Hasler was sacked.
“It is great news for the Sea Eagles that he has pledged his future and his loyalty to Manly.
“He said he was insulted and angered over suggestions that he would even think about leaving.
“He is contracted for another four years. It is really interesting because all the suggestions that he did want out came from his manager Paul Sutton at the height of the Des drama.
“But he said he and his brother Tom are definitely going to stay for the next four years.
“He was obviously very tight with Des Hasler and was really disappointed for Des, but he said they have got to move forward.
“He has worked under Anthony Seibold before, who was the defence coach at Manly for a couple of years, before he went to Souths and he looks forward to it.”
However, Rothfield does not believe the Pride jersey saga will go away, particularly if players again boycott the jersey next season.
“I still think there is a problem to sort out with the Pride jersey,” Rothfield said.
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“Jake explained in this interview that he is not religious and he was astounded at first that players wouldn’t want to wear the jersey.
“But once he had spoken to Josh Aloiai and a few of the other boys and their religious beliefs he got a better understanding of it.
“But I think it is still a lingering problem, particularly with Ian Roberts who spoke over the weekend.
“It is just not going to go away and Manly have got to make a decision now and do they still plan to wear this jersey? I don’t know what is going to happen to sort it all out.”
