Manly stars Tom Trbojevic and Dylan Walker line up in support of coach Trent Barrett
MANLY stars Dylan Walker and Tom Trbojevic have jumped to the defence of Trent Barrett as the Jackson Hastings saga continues on the northern beaches.
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STAR Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic has backed coach Trent Barrett’s controversial decision to demote Jackson Hastings to the NSW Cup.
And Trbojevic’s comments were echoed by another Manly player, former NSW and Australian centre Dylan Walker.
Trbojevic staunchly supported Barrett, a coach under suffocating pressure since dropping Hastings and then watching his side get walloped over the past two matches.
Utility Hastings has again been overlooked for Friday night’s clash with Newcastle.
Asked would Hastings be welcomed back in first grade, Trbojevic said: “That’s a hard one. I fully support Barrett’s decision and what he’s done and what he’s had to endure as coach of this footy side.
“The way he has held himself is a credit to him and a credit to his coaching ability. We all love having him as our coach — that’s the reason I support every decision he makes. That one (the Hastings decision) as well.
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“It’s been very hard over the past few years and he has had a lot of issues. But the way he has managed himself and, on this one (the Hastings issue), I fully support him.
“(The decision) was a credit to him. In his young coaching career, he’s been here two and a half years and his club has come with a bit of drama. His head is on the chopping block, he’s the one put out in the media.”
Manly held a media day on Tuesday where Trbojevic, Walker, Akuila Uate and Matt Wright were put forward by the club for interviews.
While the club wanted media questioning to surround the Knights match at Brookvale, the four players were hit by a barrage of questions about the club’s current predicament.
Up to six players face fines of $10,000 for their behaviour in Gladstone after a round five match against Gold Coast.
The players have the right to appeal under NRL policy.
Asked were the fines a lesson for all players, Trbojevic said: “There is a lesson for everyone. I think management will deal with that whole issue and whatever comes of it, comes of it.”
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Trbojevic also denied there was division within the club — some supporting Hastings, others backing Cherry-Evans.
“No, we are a very close footy team,” Trbojevic said. “There is certainly no divide. The group we have here is real close and every one of us are really good mates.”
Trbojevic also claimed the playing group fully supported Cherry-Evans.
“One-hundred per cent,” he said. “’Chez’ is a legend and we love having him as our leader.
“I love playing with him week in, week out. It’s been a tough few weeks for him but we know we will get the best from him for the rest of the year.
“When he’s playing his best footy, we are a better footy side.”
Pressed on whether his club had discipline or culture issues, Trbojevic said: “No, not at all, I don’t think so.”
Walker was another showing committed support for Barrett.
“With the Jackson situation, it goes to the front office, they are dealing with,” Walker said. “Whatever Trent does, that’s his decision — we have to back it.
“I can’t be 80-20 or 90-10, everyone, 100 per cent, has to back Trent. With Jackson, we hope he’s getting help and it seems he is. We’re a tight-knit group.”
Walker said he was “sick and tired” of hearing about what happened in Gladstone.
“As a player, you just want to forget about it and move on,” Walker said.
Sea Eagles winger Akuila Uate also spoke about Barrett.
“We are going through some tough times at the moment but we just need to stick together and get behind ‘Baz’ (Barrett), Uate said.
Trbojevic denied the off-field incidents were impacting on the team’s on-field performances.
“No, not at all. I don’t think it has, we just haven’t been doing the little things right and haven’t be disciplined,” he said.
“We haven’t been playing well in the last few weeks and that is evident by the results. We’ll have a few honest discussions with the boys.”