NRL 2022: Manly v Wests Tigers teams, Tom Trbojevic back, brothers first time together

Just when all eyes were on Wests Tigers saviour Jackson Hastings and his first clash with Manly since an ugly exit, a historic Trbojevic feat has overshadowed his ‘homecoming’.

DAILY TELEGRAPH - 24 FEBRUARY, 2022. EMBARGOED FOR 9TH MARCH, 2022, DO NOT PUBLISH WITHOUT APPROVAL FROM DAILY TELEGRAPH SPORT AND PICTURE DESK. Manly Sea Eagles stars and siblings L-R Jake, Tom and Ben Trbojevic pictured at the Sea Eagles training centre in Narrabeen. Picture: Toby Zerna

Jackson Hastings‘ return to Manly is set to take a back seat to a landmark occasion for the Trbojevic family. Jake, Tom and Ben Trbojevic have played together before, but never have the trio run out for the start of an NRL game.

That will change on Saturday afternoon at 4 Pines Park against the Wests Tigers after 20-year-old Ben was named to start for the first time in his young NRL career and Tom was recalled from injury.

The Sea Eagles’ have been beset by injuries to their backline in the lead-up to the game and the versatile Ben Trbojevic - the youngest of the trio - has been given an opportunity to start in the centres.

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For the first time, the Trbojevic brothers will all start in the same NRL game. Picture: Toby Zerna

It comes in a game which has the added intrigue of Hastings’ return to 4 Pines Park against the club he left four years ago in a blaze of controversy after an altercation in Queensland involving Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans.

Hastings insists he has no problem with Cherry-Evans. Nor does he have an issue with Manly. Any lingering problems Hastings had with the Sea Eagles are believed to have departed the club when Trent Barrett headed for the exit door.

It is why Hastings and Cherry-Evans insist there will be no bad blood as the pair prepare to cross paths for the first time since their argument in Gladstone in 2018, the prelude to Hastings being dumped to reserve grade and then shown the door.

Hastings rebuilt his career in the English Super League and will return to 4 Pines Park on Saturday afternoon as a crucial member of a Tigers side that has won two of its past three games. Privately, he says there will one no point to prove and no desire to get one over Cherry-Evans.

Jackson Hastings has resurrected his NRL career at the Tigers.

The Tigers gagged Hastings this week, saying he had done enough media of late, but News Corp spent a short time with him outside the dressing sheds after his side’s loss to St George Illawarra last Sunday and there was no sign of any residual contempt towards Manly or the Sea Eagles’ skipper.

Cherry-Evans, likewise, insists he has no issue with Hastings. He said as much in the pages of this newspaper early this month and reiterated it on Tuesday when asked about the impending game against the Tigers.

“I have found myself in some funny situations over my career but if they didn’t happen, I wouldn’t have learned some of the most valuable lessons I have got under my belt at the moment,” Cherry-Evans said.

“So when you do learn our most valuable lessons in rugby league you always hope it is never involving someone else, just you.

The calm before the storm... Jackson Hastings and Daly Cherry-Evans all smiles in 2018. NRL Imagery

“Unfortunately that was a situation where two of us learned the hard way. That is just what happened. We both came out the other side.

“At the time it created a bit of publicity but he went away to England and got Man of Steel. He is leading the charge for the Tigers.

“We saw each other after the trial match the other day and said midday. The writing is on the wall at the moment - he is playing great footy.

“I am really happy to see him playing some great footy.”

Hastings and Cherry-Evans had dinner and hugged it out before the former headed overseas.

Hastings playing for the Blacktown Sea Eagles.

Hastings’ Manly stint didn’t work out.

He has returned from England a more mature and level-headed figure compared to the hothead who departed these shores.

“You could say he maybe couldn’t laugh at himself but maybe it was the wrong jokes we were saying,” Cherry-Evans said.

“It can’t be all his faults. Watching him at the moment - I think that is what people have to understand - we were at different parts of our life back then.

“The chemistry at the time didn’t work. You can see now where we are at, if you had to chuck us in the same team I reckon we would be doing a pretty handy job together.

“I am someone who likes to roam around the field a bit and he has obviously taken control in the middle. It would have worked nicely.”

Brad Parker (C) has been struck down by injury, while Karl Lawton (L) is suspended for the Tigers clash. Picture: Getty

The way the Tigers have been going of late, Hastings and his teammates would fancy their chances of causing an upset at 4 Pines Park on Saturday afternoon.

Manly have been struck by injuries in the leadup to the game - winger Jason Saab (toe) and centre Brad Parker (knee) have both been sidelined, although they will be fortified by the return of Tom Trbojevic.

“He is a massive addition for us - both sides of the ball as well,” Cherry-Evans said.

“His attack is obviously brilliant. He is our fullback and we do so much work defensively with our fullback dictating where players are going.

“He is a big part of our defence as well. The last couple of weeks haven’t been great for us defensively.

“So it is something we want to focus on this weekend - being at Brookie and having that mentality of nothing breaking us.”

What’s the Buzz: DCE salutes reborn Hastings

- Phil Rothfield

Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans has broken four years of silence on his feud and hotel-room altercation with reborn Wests Tigers star Jackson Hastings.

Hastings faces an emotional return to Brookvale Oval in two weeks and a face-to-face showdown with his ex-teammate.

The pair had a physical altercation inside a Gladstone hotel room on a Manly away trip to Gladstone in 2018, which led to Hastings being banished to feeder club Blacktown and treated by then Manly coach Trent Barrett as an outcast.

Cherry-Evans cannot speak highly enough of Hastings’ comeback from the UK Super League.

“It’s great to see him back and leading the Wests Tigers to their first win last week,” Cherry-Evans said. “He played a starring role and it was really good to watch.

Jackson Hastings kicked the match-winning field goal for the Tigers against the Eels.

“There has never been a doubt about his footy ability. The potential has always been there. He’s brought some really good footy back from overseas, that’s for sure.”

Asked about the falling out in 2018, Cherry Evan said: “I don’t really want to go there. What’s there to gain from talking about that sort of stuff. I was a silly moment but it happened and everyone has now moved on.”

I asked if he had reached out to Hastings since his return.

“We were never in the same group of friends but we played in a trial match and we said g’day at the end. Look, I’m just genuinely happy for him. He’s embraced being a leader at the Wests Tigers and deserves admiration for it.

“When you think about it, it’s pretty rare what he’s done. When players go to Super League it’s normally at the end of their career. He resurrected his and it’s fantastic to see.”

And Saturday week at Brookvale against the Wests Tigers?

“I enjoy every challenge against every halfback and this will be no different,” DCE said.

Daly Cherry-Evans is happy to see Jackson Hastings back in the NRL. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Give my man Zac a break

We received the following email from veteran player agent Steve Gillis in regards to his player, St George Illawarra centre Zac Lomax, and the media coverage since his over-the-top try celebration against the Knights.

It reads: “I feel obliged to pen you a quick note in relation to the incident involving Zac Lomax and Tyson Frizell last weekend.

As you are aware, I represent Zac, having known him since he was 14 and signed him at age 15. Importantly, Zac is not a dirty player but concedes his actions were inappropriate and disrespectful. He accepts responsibility for his actions and apologises for what he did.

He has learned a great deal from this. He wears his heart on his sleeve, plays to win and is grateful for the opportunity to play our great game.

I appreciate your comments on NRL 360 last Monday night, stating that although you believed Zac had stuffed up, you didn’t believe it warranted heavy sanction and we should all move on.

This week, the media hype surrounding the incident, in my opinion, has got away from us.

Yes, I know you all have a job to do ...

Zac Lomax jumped on a rival player’s back during a try celebration gone wrong. Should he have done it — no, but it happened. Is he remorseful, yes. Will he ever do it again — no.

My point is that we often lose sight of what effect constant media coverage may have on individuals and their state of mind.

Jackson Hastings speaks openly and honestly about how he struggled with media scrutiny. Mitch Moses and Luke Brooks have also had to shoulder plenty of attention.

This week it’s Zac who has found himself at the centre of a hurricane which simply hasn’t dissipated. We underestimate - in fact we don’t even take into consideration - the ripple effects such commentary may have on individuals.

Footballers are human. They have emotions and feel pain like any other person. And they will make mistakes. In my opinion, we all need to be a little kinder to each other.

After all, it’s a game of footy.”