Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic declares himself fit for NRL round one
Manly have been sweating on the fitness of the Trbojevic brothers, Tom and Jake, as the Sea Eagles battle to begin the 2020 NRL season with a healthy squad. READ THE LATEST.
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Superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic is fit again and ready for round one — and he might just be joined by brother Jake for the season opener against Melbourne.
Tom has overcome hamstring and pectoral injuries which disrupted him last season to declare: “I’m fit and just want to play some footy. I love the game, let’s get out there.”
And his brother Jake, expected to miss the opening two games through a shoulder injury, has worked incredibly hard in rehab over summer and could be a surprise inclusion for the round one game at Brookvale Oval.
It’s the latest bit of good news for the Sea Eagles with revelations caoch Des Hasler is set to cash in on Manly’s resurgence with massive new contract.
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Tom was cut down by injuries throughout 2019, including hamstring issues in a trial game and then again in round four before a pectoral injury late in the season ended his year on the eve of Manly’s finals campaign.
He missed 13 weeks of the season.
“I’m all sweet — I’m going good and am looking forward to an injury-free year,” Tom told The Daily Telegraph.
“The hamstring was good by the end of last year, so I will keep working on that with strength training so that won’t be an issue.
“With the pec, I had surgery and have done everything to get the strength back and it’s feeling really good. I want to keep getting better, keep improving and keep playing good footy.”
While injury curtailed his season, although he did play State of Origin in a winning NSW side, Tom is trying to push away any negative thoughts.
“I don’t really think about it to be honest,” he said. “I just know I have to put the work in. You come to these things (media conferences) and you get asked but it’s not an issue in my head.
“It was my first year of injuries last season. It’s not really bothering me.”
Jake had off-season shoulder surgery and was due to miss the first two games of 2020 against Melbourne and Sydney Roosters. He is still no certainty for round one but his injury is mending strongly.
Manly forwards Addin Fonua-Blake (shoulder) and Taniela Paseka (left ankle) are also in doubt for the first few games of this season. The loss of Fonua-Blake and Paseka - and possibly Jake – will be a sturdy early-season test of Manly’s depth.
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Rising prop Zac Saddler, chosen in the Indigenous All Stars squad – would be considered for round one.
After coming from 15th in 2018 to run sixth last season, Manly’s roster – and a legion of fans – will enter 2020 with increased and genuine optimism.
“We have a similar squad to last year. Danny Levi (hooker) would probably be the only one that didn’t play with us last year,” Tom said. “It will be good to play with each other again and good to play under Des (Hasler, coach) again.
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“It’s exciting, really exciting. Early on in the last decade, Manly and Melbourne were the two best sides in the competition and that’s where they built the rivalry.
“Melbourne has been a quality side for so many years and to get them round one at Lottoland is exciting for the club and hopefully we will get some fans there.”
Manly officials are hoping for a sell-out crowd to watch the Storm game. Jake and Fonua-Blake underwent shoulder surgery at the same time last November.
SUPERCOACH INSIDER
Jake Trbojevic, 2RF, $583,900
He’s only 26, but Jurbo is already a KFC SuperCoach superstar. He scored the 16th most points of any player last year after finishing second in 2018, first in 2017 and 16th in 2016. However, until now KFC SuperCoaches assumed he would miss Round 1 and he is therefore just the 78th most popular player. His ownership will soar following this news but he’s still likely to start 2020 as a POD for a player of his calibre.
— Tom Sangster