‘I WAS PRETTY RATTLED BY THE LAST INJURY’: TRBOJEVIC ACCEPTS SHIFT TO CENTRES FOR MANLY RETURN

Manly star Tom Trbojevic says he is excited to revert to the centres after joining his teammates on the training paddock on Saturday for the first time before next weekend’s return from a hamstring injury.

Trbojevic was a shattered man when he hobbled off the field at Suncorp Stadium against the Dolphins in round 10.

He injured his hamstring as he attempted to save a try before colliding with a TV cameraman.

The latest injury, he said, “really rattled me”.

Trbojevic said he had been running at full speed for the past couple of weeks and would have rejoined teammates earlier had they not been given some days off during a bye round.

Manly coach Anthony Seibold confirmed on Saturday that Trbojevic would return against the Cowboys in Townsville at centre – not fullback – in a move designed to safeguard his fragile body. The switch has been made easier by Tolu Koula being ready to wear the No.1 jersey.

Trbojevic struggled with shoulder and hamstring issues in 2022 and 2023 and was banking on a big campaign this season before the setback.

Such is Trbojevic’s importance to Manly, since the start of the 2019 season the club has won 63 per cent of its games with their highest-paid player, and 34 per cent without him.

Trbojevic averages 17 runs for more than 160 metres in the fullback position.

But he is no stranger to centre, starting there four times in 2016. He also won the 2021 Origin series at right centre for NSW.

Trbojevic said he would never second guess Seibold’s decision, and wanted only what was best for the club.

“It’s going to be a different challenge, but one I’m excited about,” Trbojevic told this masthead.

“We’ve got someone like Toula who can play fullback. It’s just good to mix it up for a few weeks and see how we go. The new position keeps me mentally fresh as well.

“I’ve been back running at full speed the past couple of weeks. There have been no dramas.

“I don’t want to jinx anything. I was pretty rattled by the last injury.

“I’m probably not in the position to demand what I can or can’t do. There’s a bit more contact defensively in the centres, but attacking wise, the positions are similar.

“I’ve played centre before; I’ve played Origin there. I just want to get back playing. I’ll do what’s best for the team.”

The Sea Eagles play the Cowboys in Townsville next weekend, but Trbojevic said the long flight would have little affect on his hamstring.

Seibold told Channel Nine this month the club had studied GPS data to help with the positional decision for Trbojevic, saying: “To be frank, from a data point of view, there’s not a whole heap of difference.”

On Saturday afternoon, Manly confirmed via a press release Trbojevic would be in the centres.

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