Tom Trbojevic stars for Manly Sea Eagles in big win over Newcastle Knights

THIS is a story the Manly Sea Eagles don’t want written. It’s about a rising star who will become the face of their ­famous club.

Manly players celebrate a try.

THIS is a story Manly don’t want written.

It’s about a rising star who will become the face of their ­famous club.

A 19-year-old who now carries the Sea Eagles’ semi-final expectations on his shoulders.

Tommy ‘‘Turbo’’ Trbojevic has become a rugby league star this year and will have a massive influence in Manly’s late charge.

But Manly want Trbojevic protected from the spotlight.

Good luck with that one.

Trbojevic ran for 193 metres, made six tackle breaks and had two try assists.

Manly have won four matches in a row and, with a bye, secured 10 competition points in five weeks.

And at the forefront is Trbojevic, who was brilliant for the opening hour before a few late fumbles.

He has become a glamour player in the absence of the prince of Brookvale, Brett Stewart. It was just a shame Manly placed a media ban on the youngster after the game.

Tom Trbojevic produced three try assists for Manly. Picture: Mark Evans

“Tom is a by-product of what is going on around him,’’ coach Trent Barrett said. “He’s going really good but, I mean, he’s only young. I hate to ... we see it so often, everyone puts so much pressure on these young blokes. He’s 19 years old.

“We will try and protect him as much as we can and let him develop. He needs that. We’ve got to do the right thing by him and let him come along slowly. He’s a good player, no doubt about that.”

Barrett had no qualms in keeping Trbojevic away from the media.

“Yeah, there’s spotlight, it doesn’t worry him,’’ he said. “But I think we have a responsibility to him to shield him from it as well ... and we will.”

The Sea Eagles risked breaching NRL media guidelines by keeping Trbojevic away from the media.

The 36-16 win over Newcastle at Brookvale Oval places Manly one win outside the top eight with a match against out-of-form Parramatta at Pirtek Stadium on Friday night.

Tom Trbojevic had a blinder against the Knights. Picture: Mark Evans

The Sea Eagles now sit on 20 competition points with five rounds remaining.

Manly did their damage in the first half. It really was just a glorified training run. By halftime, Manly had amassed a 26-0 lead.

Jorge Taufua has now scored eight tries in his past five games against Newcastle.

“The first 50 minutes was really good but the second half, that last half an hour got scrappy and a bit stop-start,” Barrett said.

To be fair, Newcastle’s side comprised a pack of no-names. Try as they do, at this point they simply don’t have enough experience or ability.

The Knights’ time will come. But it may be a fair way down the track.

You have to feel for Newcastle coach Nathan Brown. He has been forced to field a team that really struggles to compete each week.

The Knights haven’t won a game now in 113 days and have won just one all season. The Knights have now lost 13 games in succession, equalling a horror club record.

Newcastle’s inaugural side back in 1988 won five games. The Knights did win the second half, scoring three tries. It showed they still have some heart and passion.

“It’s tough at the moment,” Newcastle coach Nathan Brown said. “We have hit rock-bottom.”

Knights Immortal Andrew Johns wandered onto the field at fulltime after finishing his duties with Channel 9.

How Newcastle would love him back now.

MANLY 36 (B Wiliame 2 J Buhrer J Starling J Taufua D Walker M Wright tries D Walker 4 goals) bt NEWCASTLE 16 (D Bhana B Elliot P Mata’utia tries T Hodkinson 2 goals) at Brookvale Oval. Referee: Gavin Badger, Adam Devcich. Crowd: 11,222.

Originally published as Tom Trbojevic stars for Manly Sea Eagles in big win over Newcastle Knights