NRL 2022: Tom Trbojevic nominates Manly surprise packet as he gears up for new season

Manly’s Tom Trbojevic has nominated a surprise packet in Des Hasler’s squad, while sending a warning about his own expectations. Plus, how to watch all the NRL trials.

Tom Trbojevic. Picture: Tim Hunter

Opponents tried and failed to stop Tom Trbojevic last season. So it comes as no surprise to hear how he handled an off-season battle with Covid-19 as the illness cut a swathe through not just Manly, but the vast majority of the competition.

“Wouldn’t have even known (I had it),” Trbojevic said.

Trbojevic is coming off arguably the greatest individual season in the game’s history. If there was a medal to be won, he won it.

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His trifecta of awards — the Dally M, the Players Champion and the Wally Lewis Medal — are in storage at his parent’s home on Sydney’s northern beaches.

Trbojevic concedes there will be pressure to replicate his feats as he prepares to kick-off his year in the pre-season trials, which will be shown live and exclusive on Kayo and Fox League in coming weeks.

Tom Trbojevic had Covid in the off-season but is raring to go for the new season. Picture: Tim Hunter

Asked how he can improve on last year, Trbojevic — speaking in his role as an ambassador for Kayo Sports — said: “That’s a good question, but you have to find a way to keep improving.

“You have to find ways to keep getting better. It is all the same stuff I was doing last year on a personal level.

“You obviously try to find ways to get better as a team from a tactical perspective. Everyone has an expectation within the team.

“I haven’t thought about it too much. We have a while before the season starts but I would definitely like to do my part.”

His more pressing priority — and that of Manly — is to find a way to knock off the top sides. The Sea Eagles struggled last year against the so-called big guns — they beat Parramatta and the Sydney Roosters, but were on the receiving end against Melbourne, South Sydney and Penrith.

Inexperience in big games played a part and Manly will be better in that regard given what they went through last season.

Their ability to beat the best will largely determine how far they go in 2022.

“We weren’t good enough against the top sides,” Trbojevic said.

Tom Trbojevic capped off a stunning 2021 season by winning the Dally M Medal. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“We didn’t beat them all year. We’re going to have to get a bit tougher and a bit better defensively. It was an issue. We haven’t spoken about it as a group but everyone knows there are areas we have to improve on.

“You have to be able to beat those top sides to win the comp and that’s what we want to do. Maybe it was a touch of inexperience — not many of us had played finals football before, including myself.

“We need to grow as a footy side.”

That seems guaranteed. Prodigiously-talented backrower Josh Schuster will be better for last year. So too his second row partner Haumole Olakau’atu. The youngest of the Trbojevic trio, Ben, is also ready to make his mark according to his brother.

“Benny has been training well,” Trbojevic said. “He should get a few more games this year. He had a taste of it last year. I don’t want to put any pressure on him.”

Asked for a surprise packet, he nominated 19-year-old Tolutau Koula.

“He’s just an athlete, very quick and strong,” Trbojevic said.

Everyone will need to play their part if Manly are to improve on last year. The sense is that the time is now for the Sea Eagles.

“Every year you come in thinking you have a chance to win it,” Trbojevic said.

“We definitely have a very good squad here. You don’t want to waste that opportunity. We have a quality side here and we want to make something of it.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Tom Trbojevic nominates Manly surprise packet as he gears up for new season