Manly Sea Eagles’ audacious plan to get star fullback Tom Trbojevic back for NRL finals

After originally being ruled out for the season, Manly Sea Eagles superstar Tom Trbojevic could be back well ahead of schedule from a serious pectoral injury.

Tom Trbojevic suffered a pectoral injury in Origin 2. Picture: Adam Head

Manly superstar Tom Trbojevic could be available for a shock finals comeback – and NRL rules will also allow Manly to find an interim replacement.

Trbojevic sustained a pectoral injury in State of Origin II with the Sea Eagles now hoping he could return after a 12-week absence.

That means Trbojevic – provided he is cleared medically – could be back for week two of the finals, provided Manly can qualify.

Under NRL rules, a club can only secure salary cap dispensation for an injured player if he misses 12 or more games. Trbojevic will miss the required 12 weeks.

That means Manly can try to locate an immediate replacement but also include Trbojevic in their side later this season.

Manly would have to drop a player if the club exceeded the 30-man squad limit through a new player and Trbojevic’s return.

The NRL insists a replacement for Trbojevic would need to be ‘like-for-like’.

It was expected Trbojevic would miss the rest of this season but there is now some optimism he could return for a late crack if Manly can sneak into the playoffs.

Tom Trbojevic suffered a pectoral injury in Origin 2. Picture: Adam Head

Manly continues to monitor the market – the club sounded out New Zealander Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – but have not yet identified a possible fullback replacement.

The Sea Eagles have been buoyed by Dolphins halfback Sean O’Sullivan, who was ready to return from a pectoral injury after a 12-game lay-off.

O’Sullivan injured his pectoral in round four against Brisbane but was back in round 17 against Parramatta. He could have played round 16 but the Dolphins had a bye.

Trbojevic injured his pec on June 21 in Sydney.

There is the question as to whether Manly would risk bringing Trbojevic back from such a long-term injury so late in the season.

But if Trbojevic is cleared medically, and wants to play, Manly would no doubt select the Test and Blues star.

Trbojevic returned to hospital earlier this month after contracting a post-surgery infection.

To play finals footy, Manly must start winning consistently. The Sea Eagles currently sit in 11th place with seven wins from 17 games.

Manly are three points outside the top eight and play Cronulla this Sunday at Pointsbet Stadium.

Trbojevic has endured a wretched sequence of injuries dating back to 2016.

From then, the luckless star has sustained four hamstring injuries along with ankle and shoulder issues.

His 2021 season was one of the finest by an individual player in modern day rugby league history.

Tom Trbojevic after suffering the setback for the Blues. Picture: Getty

Manly’s bizarre move to ‘debunk’ player agent rumours

— Brent Read and Michael Carayannis

Manly boss Tony Mestrov has hit out at suggestions the club is beholden to any player agent after taking the extraordinary step of posting its links with management companies on the club’s website.

The Sea Eagles have been on the receiving end of a slew of criticism that they are in the grip of powerful agent Isaac Moses, who manages coach Anthony Seibold as well as a handful of players at the club.

However, Manly revealed on their website that Moses’ Cove Agency only has five players on the club’s books, two less than Mario Tartak’s Crown Sports International and Daniel O’Loughlin from Wasserman.

Mestrov insisted the club was committed to spreading their links with management companies, although Tartak’s numbers may be on the wane as the Fainu brothers - Samuela and Latu - edge towards a decision on their futures.

Player manager Isaac Moses.

Anthony Seibold is managed by Moses. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

The brothers are expected to make a call later this week with the Wests Tigers the clear frontrunners to secure the duo. The Dolphins were believed to be interested in the brothers but it is understood they have backed off in recent days.

The Bulldogs have also spoken to the pair, although the close ties between Tartak and Tigers recruitment boss Scott Fulton has given them a clear-cut edge in negotiations.

“Obviously the club wants to have a healthy balance of player agents,” Mestrov said.

“We won’t be controlled by any player agents. There are some misconceptions that we are controlled by one company.

“It’s just not true. We want to put that misconception to bed by showing the even spread of player talent and player agents.”

Mestrov has hit out at suggestions the club is beholden to player agents. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

The Sea Eagles have become increasingly frustrated with talk about the purported influence of Moses, who is widely regarded as one of the most powerful agents in the game.

The club’s biggest names - the Trbojevic boys and Daly Cherry-Evans - are managed by SFX Sports and Joe Wehbe’s Ignite Sports. Tartak also wields significant influence at the club through his management of Josh Schuster and Haumole Olakau’atu.

Moses’ representation at Manly includes Aaron Woods, Ben Condon, Cooper Johns and Ethan Bullemor. The Sea Eagles also signed another Moses client Matt Lodge to a train and trial deal last week.

Lodge only has a deal for this season, although the club is open to extending his deal if he produces over coming weeks.

Two of three players Manly have signed for next season are managed by Moses in Wests Tigers duo Luke Brooks and Tommy Talau. The other - Jaxson Paulo - is looked after by Wasserman’s Nash Dawson.