Tom Trbojevic calls for more ball as Manly Sea Eagles address playmaker dilemma

HOW coach Trent Barrett copes with the departure of Blake Green is the burning question facing the Sea Eagles.

Tom Trbojevic on the charge for Manly. Picture: Phil Hillyard

MANLY have spent all summer pondering how they’re going to replace playmaker Blake Green in the NRL.

And the answer may have been staring at them all along with star fullback Tom Trbojevic putting up his hand to pick up the slack in 2018.

How coach Trent Barrett copes with the departure of Warriors-bound Green is the burning question facing his side.

Blake Green has joined the Warriors, leaving a hole in Manly’s playmaking stocks.

Rookie Lachlan Croker has the inside running to partner Daly Cherry-Evans at the scrum base but their lack of an established No. 6 shapes as a big learning curve.

Trbojevic said he was hoping to ease the pressure on the new halves pairing by running the ball more often this year.

“Hopefully it works out like that,” Trbojevic said, when asked if he hoped to get his hands on the ball more often.

“Playing footy and you’ve got the ball in hand, there’s not too many better things than that.”

Tom Trbojevic wants to get more involved. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Croker, the nephew of former Canberra great Jason, has just one NRL game to his credit after two seasons with the Raiders.

“He’s fit and he’s been training the house down, he’s really composed for a young player,” Trbojevic said.

“He’ll get the start there and he’s got the backing of the full squad.

Lachlan Croker is set to start in the No. 6 jersey for Manly.

“(Green) was one of our best players last year but Crokes will fill his shoes really well.

“He’s good with the ball in hand, he’s a good ball runner.

“He really compliments Cherry well so if he can get the ball to Cherry in the right spots then the team will be going well.”

Originally published as Tom Trbojevic calls for more ball as Manly Sea Eagles address playmaker dilemma