Tom Trbojevic’s move to the centres looks official with the Sea Eagles’ star training in the outside backs on Monday.
Lehi Hopoate will wear the No. 1 jersey, with Trbojevic and Reuben Garrick the new-look right edge heading into Friday’s crunch game against the Wests Tigers.
As revealed by this masthead last week, coach Anthony Seibold wanted to shift ‘Turbo’ in a bid to spark some form and help him regain confidence after an injury-plagued season.
Trbojevic has started at centre just five times in 160 NRL games – round 18 last year, and rounds 11, 14, 15, and 16 in 2016. But he has also proven a revelation in the position when playing there for NSW and Australia.
Should Trbojevic remain in the centres – and Hopoate shines in the custodian role – it will no doubt raise questions about Trbojevic’s value when he negotiates a new deal at his junior club beyond 2027.
The Trbojevic move may have an impact on Garrick’s future, who has made it known he prefers centre to wing, and more than held his own at centre during the past 18 months.
Tom Trbojevic sat out Thursday night’s game against Newcastle.Credit: NRL Photos
It’s not only a big week for Trbojevic, but also Seibold whose immediate future is in the spotlight after successive losses to the lowly Knights and Titans.
Manly CEO Tony Mestrov was hardly glowing in his appraisal of Seibold when he said: “At the moment, Seibs is safe at this point.”
Should Manly lose to the Tigers, who were the better team for much of the night despite losing to Canberra last Friday, expect the pressure to be turned up a notch on the coach who is signed until the end of 2027.
Assistant Mick Ennis and former Manly player Matt Ballin, who is currently working with the Broncos, have been touted as potential replacements.
In a show of unity, most of the NRL players turned up to watch the club’s NSW Cup side play on Saturday night, including injured backrower Haumole Olakau’atu. Olakau’atu said of Seibold: “Seibs is a good fella, the boys have his back, and he’s got our back as well. Whatever is [being said] out there and on the socials, it’s just that. Inside the circle we’re all sweet.”
Some other key takeouts from training was Tola Koula and Tommy Talau teaming up on the left edge, winger Jason Saab watching training with his right knee in a compression sleeve, Jazz Tevaga running with the starting team at hooker, and Corey Waddell at right second-row.
Trbojevic will front the media on Monday afternoon as part of a club partnership announcement.
More to come.
