Jake Trbojevic declares NRL’s salary cap investigation won’t stop Sea Eagles fighting for top four finish
LOOK who’s back, Manly fans. After returning to full contact training this week, Jake Trbojevic says the salary cap investigation won’t stand in Manly’s way of top four finish.
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JAKE Trbojevic rates Manly’s 2018 NRL squad capable of a top four finish regardless of the salary cap investigation outcome.
In a major boost to the Sea Eagles, the inspirational forward returned to full contact training this week after undergoing surgery for a pectoral injury suffered in Australia’s opening World Cup game.
The 23-year-old has no doubt he will be ready to go for the start of the season in a team he believes can challenge for the title.
Trbojevic also opened up about the fight ahead for his younger brother Tom to try and wrestle the NSW No 1 jumper from James Tedesco.
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The immediate concern for Manly fans is how the salary cap investigation will impact the team’s hopes in 2018.
Trbojevic said he was backing his teammates and coach Trent Barrett to take up the slack and still challenge the NRL’s best.
Trbojevic said Barrett deserves plenty of credit for the way he has kept the team focused throughout a tough initiation into the head coaching ranks.
“We are very lucky to have him as our head coach. I love playing under him,” Trbojevic said of Barrett.
“He has been under a lot of pressure with everything that has gone on at the club but he always comes out on top. He is such a calm fella and a really good coach.
“I think last year where he took us was a true testament and hopefully we can just keep getting better for him.
“Last year people probably thought that we wouldn’t be there (in the finals) but we were always confident and this year is no different.
“We have got a really team and some really quality players across the park. We expect a lot from ourselves.
“We want to go better than last year. I think we ended up sixth. We want to go better than that.
“Everyone’s goal is to be in the top four but as I said we have a great coaching staff and we all get along really well and we are really excited.”
Trbojevic admits he was shattered to be forced out of the World Cup.
“It was disappointing but to get picked in the World Cup squad and then get to play in that first game against England is something I was really proud about,” Trbojevic said
“Now I am focusing on this year.
“I started contact on Monday and I am just enjoying getting back into it. I am all set to go.”
Trbojevic is also expecting an even bigger season from his 21-year-old brother.
Already the debate has started about who should play fullback for NSW after Tom was picked in Australia’s World Cup squad and Tedesco missed out.
Barrett said last year that he hopes when Tom is ready for Origin he gets picked in his preferred position and not on the wing.
Jake said he hopes his brother gets a Blues call up, but he doesn’t care it what position.
“His position is definitely fullback but I think if you get a rep jumper tossed at you, you play any position just to be in the team,” Trbojevic said. “If that happens to be on the wing or in the centres I’m sure he would be happy to do it.
“He had has a really good last couple of years. He obviously just has to keep being consistent.
“He is training very hard and he is looking fit so hopefully he can have a really good season because when he is on we are a better team.”