NRL 2021: How does Tom Trbojevic’s season compare to Jarryd Hayne in 2009 or Ben Barba in 2012

Tom Trbojevic has had a mighty season, but how will it compare to Jarryd Hayne in 2009 and Ben Barba in 2012 if Manly don’t step up in finals, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.

Jarryd Hayne in 2009, Tom Trbojevic in 2021 or Ben Barba in 2012? Who had the greatest season?

Here’s a hypothetical to kick off another round of NRL debate.

If you had a chance to pick between Tom Trbojevicright now, Jarryd Hayne in 2009 or Ben Barba in 2012, who would you want on your team?

And I’ll go a step further and ask whether that would change if Manly don’t stand up in the big end-of-season games, starting with this Saturday’s showdown against the ladder-leading Melbourne Storm?

I ask this because both Hayne and Barba not only took out the Dally M Medal in those respective seasons, but their teams, Parramatta and Canterbury, also made it all the way to the grand finals.

Yet so far this year the Sea Eagles’ only win against a team with a better than 50 per cent winning record was versus Parramatta in round 11 – and that’s with or without Trbojevic.

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Jarryd Hayne in 2009, Tom Trbojevic in 2021 or Ben Barba in 2012? Who had the greatest season?

They went down to the Roosters, Rabbitohs and Panthers while Turbo was sidelined, although they put in a better performance the second time around against the Panthers with him, but they still lost. Make no mistake, what happens between now and the end of the season could have a huge bearing on where Turbo’s season ultimately ranks in the chapters of our game’s history.

It seems a lifetime ago now that the conversation at the start of the season related to who would be the game’s next genuine champion in the wake of Cameron Smith’s retirement.

Of course, James Tedesco was the early favourite but there was also a new generation emerging headed by Nathan Cleary and Trbojevic, Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen and Latrell Mitchell.

All had the potential to lay claim to being the game’s next biggest thing.

Cleary started the season on fire and right up until his injury in State of Origin II he was probably in front, although Turbo and Latrell’s performances in Origin were out of this world.

Tom Trbojevic was a standout for the Blues in State of Origin 2021, winning the Wally Lewis medal as player of the series. Picture: NRL Photos.

But since taking out Origin’s man of the series, Turbo just somehow manages to take his game to another level every week.

And it’s got to the point where people are legitimately starting to wonder aloud whether he’ll end up being not only the best of this generation, but potentially ever.

I’m certain if you ran a poll right now, Turbo’s season so far would win the vote over Hayne and Barba because his form is so fresh in our minds.

Yet it’s not until you go back and have a look at the highlight packages of Hayne and Barba that you realise just how incredibly dominant they also were.

People will always point how Hayne had a tendency to drift in and out of games.

But that still didn’t stop him getting the three Dally M votes for six straight weeks between rounds 19 and 24 in 2009.

Barba’s overall statistics in 2012 were every bit as phenomenal. He finished with 22 tries to Hayne’s 14 and 23 try assists to 19, while Hayne had 34 linebreaks compared with Barba’s 27 and 178 tackle busts to Barba’s 167.

That was in 27 games for Barba and 26 for Hayne.

Yet Trbojevic already has 18 tries, 22 try assists (just one behind Barba) and 69 tackle busts (that’s averaging 6.3 per game, which is right up with Hayne’s 6.8 and Barba’s 6.2).

Remember, this is in 11 games for Trbojevic.

What we shouldn’t ignore is that the game has opened up significantly this season because of all the rule changes, which of course has resulted in more tries across the board.

But even so, Trbojevic’s influence is off the charts.

And you think about what he has done for teammates such as Reuben Garric, Brad Parker, Morgan Harper, Jason Saab. Even Daly Cherry-Evans, who was really struggling early on without Turbo.

They’ve all gone to another level, and it’s an influence that’s right up there with all the greats, regardless of what position they played.

Jarryd Hayne won the Dall M Medal in 2009. Picture: AAP.

While Ben Barba won in 2012... Can Tom Trbojevic win in 2021? Picture: Gregg Porteous

From Cameron Smith to Andrew Johns, Johnathan Thurston to Darren Lockyer, Billy Slater to Greg Inglis, and anyone else you want to name.

None of them had a greater influence on their club than Trbojevic’s on Manly.

But what they all did, to a man, was own the results when it matter the most.

In Origin this year, Turbo did just that.

Now everyone’s ready to watch him take the next step in this journey that looks destined for greatness.

Not only is Tom Trbojevic having a great season, but he’s taking his teammates to another level as well.

As of today, this year’s Dally M Medal count remains well and truly up for grabs.

Since voting went behind closed doors after 12 rounds, we have continued to get our journalists to register their 3-2-1 for every game.

While it won’t be exactly the same as the Dally M judges, you would expect it to be in the ballpark.

We have Cody Walker just on top with 27 votes, followed by Trbojevic on 25 and Cleary on 24.

It’s worth pointing out that Walker has played 18 games to Trbojevic’s 11 and Cleary’s 12.

It really has the potential to set up a thrilling finish, especially with Cleary expected back if not this week then very soon.

But can even Cleary stand in Turbo’s way if the Manly No.1 continues in the form he showed again last weekend when he finished with three tries, three try assists and a phenomenal 15 tackle busts against the Sharks?

We are about to find out.

JOEY THE NEW GOLD STANDARD DOWN AT BONDI

Joey Manu will soon have to make the biggest decision of his career.

Does he go for real NRL gold that comes in the form of premierships, or does he chase the game’s Fools Gold — that would look great on his bank balance but potentially come at a huge cost to his career?

While the Sydney Roosters have made it known they don’t want to lose the gifted 25-year-old, the problem is going to be if the Roosters can’t come up with the salary cap space that will go close to matching the mega money sure to be on offer at less-successful clubs.

And the Roosters have another sizeable problem in that Manu also has a burning desire to play fullback – and James Tedesco owns the No.1 jumper. Throw in that Manu stands to earn up to $1 million a season at any number of clubs and it all becomes a headache for everyone involved.

Joseph Manu is off contract at the end of 2022 and will be a man in demand. Picture: Getty Images.

The New Zealand Warriors have made no secret they will be leading the chase to try and fill the massive void left by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, while other clubs have also made their
intentions known.

Regardless of where he ends up, perhaps Manu should look back at how Tuivasa-Sheck’s career panned out after he left the Roosters.

While Tuivasa-Sheck never gave anything less than his best, what price do you put on premierships and onfield success?

At least when Latrell Mitchell left the Roosters because he wanted to play fullback, he chose a club – and just as crucially a coach – who could also help take his career to the next level.

It’s the dilemma for every rising star, but too often also their downfall.

Originally published as NRL 2021: How does Tom Trbojevic’s season compare to Jarryd Hayne in 2009 or Ben Barba in 2012