Sea Eagles: Why Jake Trbojevic excites legendary Manly hardman Terry Randall

LEGENDARY Sea Eagles hardman Terry “Igor” Randall gets excited every time he sees Manhy’s rising star Jake Trbojevic smashing a rival with a big tackle.

Jake Trbojevic of the Kangaroos, in Canberra ahead of Fridays test against New Zealand. Picture: Mark Evans

• Why Trent Barrett likes City v Country
• Sea Eagles signing gamble pays off

LEGENDARY Sea Eagles hardman Terry “Igor” Randall gets excited every time he sees Manhy’s rising star Jake Trbojevic smashing a rival with a big tackle.

And he can’t wait to see 23-year-old Trbojevic rip into the Kiwis in his first Test for the Kangaroos on home soil this evening ’s in Canberra.

Randall earnt a fearsome reputation in his 208-game career with Manly between 1970-82, especially because his classical and punishing tackling technique which was without peer in what was often brutal era full of renowned tough men.

And like a lot of other keen observers, Randall can see a lot of similarities between his defence and that of Trbojevic today.

Terry Randall in his playing days with Manly.

“I get excited when he come in with a hard tackle and smashes them around the leg or up under the rib cage,” Randall said.

“That’s what I used to relish doing.

“He got good technique, he tackles low, he hits hard, what more can you say?”

Randall said Trbojevic also has a good attacking game.

“I could run the ball OK but I was no Artie Beetson,” he said.

And Randall believes Trbojevic is just going to get better and better as long as he stays injury free.

“I started when I was 18 and I reckon by the time I was 26, 27 that was the highlight of my career,” he said

“He’s just got the natural ability, I think the whole family has by the look of it.”

Randall said Jake’s dad John was a tough customer with the Narrabeen Sharks in the golden days of the A-grade competition.