Inside the mid-season review that could change the course of Tom Trbojevic’s NRL career

A shocked Tom Trbojevic has given an revealing insight into the brutal mid-season review that could see one of the greatest fullbacks in NRL history shifted to the centres permanently.

Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic concedes his move to centre came as a shock but he has vowed to put his personal pride to the side and do what is best for the team as he looks to inspire a Sea Eagles revival.

Trbojevic, one of the greatest fullbacks of the modern era, was told at a mid-season review with coach Anthony Seibold last week that he was being shifted to centre for the club’s game against the Wests Tigers on Friday night.

The surprise move came amid a disappointing run of form for the Sea Eagles, who have slipped out of the top eight after consecutive losses.

Their run of outs prompted plenty of soul searching and led to suggestions that coach Seibold was on borrowed time, although chief executive Tony Mestrov insisted on Monday that the coach had the backing of the club.

Trbojevic, meanwhile, was still coming to terms with the shift to a position he has played sparingly over his career as Seibold looks to ease the pressure on his shoulders and help him rebuild his confidence.

Asked whether the move came as a shock, Trbojevic said: “Definitely, yeah. Once you reflect on it, I don’t feel like I’m an unreasonable person where I’m entitled to this and that.

Tom Turbo.

“So I get it and I’m still playing footy so I can’t really complain too much.”

Trbojevic conceded he couldn’t afford to dwell on the disappointment given what is at stake - Manly need to win and win fast given the pressure that is building within the organisation.

“We don’t have a while in this game,” he said.

“So I’ve had many conversations in the past week with Seibs and the staff about it. I’ve come to terms with it and it’s about moving forward now.

“I’m not unhuman or inhumane or whatever you say. I’m happy to do what’s best for the team. I’m not bigger than the club or bigger than the Manly Sea Eagles.”

As for the mid-season reviews where Seibold apparently pulled no punches with the playing group, Trbojevic conceded honesty was generally the best policy.

“You want honesty,” he said.

“You want to be told things straight, I guess. I’m not going to go in and talk you through it. When you’re not going well, you’re not often not doing something right.”

The Sea Eagles’ game against the Tigers shapes as one of the most important of the club’s season given the noise that has engulfed the club after consecutive losses to Newcastle and the Gold Coast.

Before that, they seemingly got their season back on track with a big win over Brisbane. That win was quickly forgotten as their form dropped off and focus turned to the status of the coach.

“At the end of the day, Seibs is 100 per cent safe,” Mestrov said.

“We’re in the battle together. The board and myself are backing Seibs. Seibs has two more years after this and I expect him to see that out.

“We’re a happy club, we’ve got a good roster. We have been out of form as a team for whatever reason over the last couple weeks.

“But definitely Seibs, we’ve got his back. We’ve got to back what he’s doing.”

Mestrov also backed Trbojevic to eventually return to fullback - Lehi Hopoate will wear the No.1 jersey this on Friday night at 4 Pines Park.

“He’s a winner,” Mestrov said.

“So, hopefully the centre will unlock him. We think Tom, on his day, is one of the best fullbacks in the game. Hopefully he’ll get his confidence back and he’ll get back to fullback.

“Tom is still one of the best players in the world when he’s at fullback.”

Trbojevic has played centre on five previous occasions for Manly, the last of which was in round 18 last year when the Sea Eagles beat North Queensland.

His four previous club appearances in the centres were all in 2016 and Manly lost all four games. However, he has been a star for both NSW and Australia in the position and there is genuine hope at Manly that the shift can reignite him.

Trbojevic concedes the constant speculation over his form and health has been draining.

“Yeah, it’s quite hard, but that’s alright,” he said.

Lehi Hopoate is seen as Trbojevic’s long-term fullback replacement. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

“It’s easier said than done but you can only focus on what you can and that’s about getting yourself right and trying to stay on the field.

“Every man and his dog has a comment about how I am and how I feel. I think half the time people just say I look injured when I don’t play well, which is kind of what it’s come to.

“I just have to focus on doing my best on the field, stay on the field and just play good footy - that’s all I can do. That’s what it’s come to.

“I get it. It’d be like the last game - there’s been a report coming out which said that I’m not 100 per cent, when I was fine. That’s just all external noise that’s coming because of the fact we’re losing footy games.

“We just need to win games and then it’ll go away. We’re a club that should be playing for the finals and at this stage …. we’re not in a position that is in the top eight.

“It’s a poor reflection on all of us. We’re the only ones who can turn it around.”

Originally published as Inside the mid-season review that could change the course of Tom Trbojevic’s NRL career