Jake Trbojevic retirement fears: Star ruled out for the season, but expected to play on in 2026
Manly warrior Jake Trbojevic won’t be available for the rest of the season due to recent concussions - prompting speculation about whether a premature retirement was on the cards.
Jake Trbojevic has shown no signs of pulling the pin on his decorated career despite being ruled out for the rest of the regular season because of another concussion.
So much so that he has told those close to him that should the Sea Eagles qualify for the finals – as highly unlikely as that may be – that he will be prepared to play again this year. Trbojevic is yet to do any contact training but has started to return to doing some fitness work after suffering his third concussion this year.
This time it was a heavy collision while making a tackle on Canberra’s Josh Papali’i in round 23. His latest knock fuelled speculation that Trbojevic’s future was in doubt.
But that seems unlikely with the former NSW captain set to play out the final year of his deal with Manly where he will earn about $1 million.
Younger brother Ben said Jake – one of the game’s best defenders - needed to re-jig his tackling technique.
“He’s throwing his head at them and he needs to stop doing that,” Ben said. “He has to put his head in the right spot. He’s alright.
“It’s just obviously the last few weeks just building his training back up - it’s only been light stuff. It will take a bit of time so if he doesn’t play this year he obviously gets a big break, which will be good for him.
“If we can’t make finals, I think that’s probably maybe his year done. I think a break personally would be good for him if we can’t make finals. Just get his head right.
“You look at like the UFC and if they have a big concussion, they have three months off. He’s had three pretty big ones.
“I wasn’t playing in that game - I was concussed from the week before. I was watching at home and it was big Pappa’s elbow or hip. He had his head in the wrong spot. It wasn’t good but that happens.”
His brother in law Corey Waddell also said the latest injury was “very confronting”.
What the head knock has done though is put a halt to any contract talks that were happening between the two parties. Initially Jake was contemplating going around for a further season in 2027 but that is now unknown with both camps keen to see him start the new year before deciding on any course of action.
Players need to meet with an independent neurologist before being cleared to return. The 31-year-old led NSW to a series victory last year.
While the Sea Eagles remain hopeful that we have not seen the last of Trbojevic, there are concerns that hooker Lachlan Croker has played his last game because of repeated head knocks.
Originally published as Jake Trbojevic retirement fears: Star ruled out for the season, but expected to play on in 2026
SBW’s two-word sledge sets off US storm
