Sea Eagles legend Paul Vautin backs Tom Trbojevic to become Manly’s greatest ever player

Paul Vautin has backed Tom Trbojevic to surpass Bob Fulton, Geoff Toovey, Steve Menzies and Graeme Eadie to end his career as Manly’s best ever player.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 29: Tom Trbojevic of the Sea Eagles is tackled during the round 15 NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and the Manly Sea Eagles at Cbus Super Stadium on June 29, 2019 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

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Paul Vautin, a member of Manly’s ‘Dream Team’, has declared Tom Trbojevic will be recognised alongside Bob Fulton as the greatest players in Sea Eagles history.

“Fatty’s” confidence in the Manly fullback is supported by statistics which show the 22-year-old can equal a 17-year record by scoring two tries for NSW in Origin III on Wednesday night at ANZ Stadium.

Not since Queensland's Lote Tuqiri in 2002 has a player from either NSW or Queensland scored five tries in a series — an achievable feat for the Blues right-centre.

In 2006, Vautin - a no-nonsense forward and premiership-winning captain — was selected in the “Greatest Manly Team” — so it’s without trepidation that he declared Trbojevic bound for greatness.

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“Obviously, it's a club rich in player history,” Vautin told The Sunday Telegraph.

“You can talk about the greats now in Bob Fulton, Graham Eadie, Terry Randall, Malcolm Reilly, Steve Menzies and the list goes on and on.

“But I look at the impact of every game that he (Trbojevic) plays in and he’s in the top two or three players every game.

“In 10 years time, when you're looking at the list of best ever Manly players, he’ll be up there and could be the best ever.

“As long as he remains injury-free — that’s what I believe.

“I've been at Brookie (Brookvale Oval) when Tom touches the ball and the crowd goes mad.

“The impact that he has on the games that he plays in and for his team, is just incredible.

Trbojevic has played 82 first grade games. Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

“There's not much he can’t do and what he does good, he does better than most players.”

What’s remarkable about Trbojevic’s recent form is that in just three games back from his second hamstring injury lay-off he has proven virtually unstoppable.

In his last three matches against St George Illawarra, Queensland in game two and the Gold Coast last week, Trbojevic have averaged 200 running metres and has a combined 20 tackle busts and six line-breaks.

“When he played that game against the Dragons and ran riot, everyone just went... are you serious?” Vautin said.

“He’d been off crook with his hamstring for so long and he came back and did that in his second game.

“If that’s how dominant he can be after a long break, imagine what he’ll be like once his conditioning is up and he’s playing ever week without a concern.

“And I tell you what, his brother Jake won’t be far behind him when they talk about great Manly players in the future.’’

Trbojevic is in top form for Manly. AAP Image/Darren England.

Vautin said it should be the Sea Eagles’ number one priority to secure the futures of both Trbojevic and his NSW Origin forward brother Jake.

The duo are off-contract at the end of next season and clubs have the right to approach the duo from November 1.

But typical of the ever-polite Jake, discussing talk of both his brother’s possibility of greatness and the duo’s future at Manly, isn’t an immediate focus.

“We have 18 months left at Manly, so we really haven’t even thought about it too much,'” Jake said.

“It’s a bad look, I reckon to even be talking about it (contracts). That's why we've got managers to sort it out.

“As for Tommy, I'm proud the way he’s come back from injury and no doubt he’ll draw confidence to improve with every week he plays.”

Despite his glowing endorsement of the Trbojevic brothers, Vautin, a former Origin series-winning coach with Queensland said the Maroons would have a plan to try and dull their impact in the decider.

“It’s a great challenge to try and nullify them, that’s the way I always looked at it when I came up against the best players for NSW,’’ Vautin said.

“That’s the test Queensland have got now.’’

Originally published as Sea Eagles legend Paul Vautin backs Tom Trbojevic to become Manly’s greatest ever player