By Phil Lutton
There were plenty of times Tom Trbojevic thought he’d never reach his peak as he battled a series of hamstring injuries that threatened to blunt the edge of one of the most dangerous attacking weapons the rugby league world has ever seen.
On Monday night, prized hamstrings intact, he was wearing the Dally M Medal as the game’s best player after a scintillating season for the Sea Eagles that produced 25 tries in 15 games, including three hat-tricks.
The 28 try assists, second only to Rabbitohs five-eighth Cody Walker, underlined how potent he was with the football. There were times when he was simply unstoppable as he shredded tackles and terrorised defensive lines amid the ultra-quick modern game created by new NRL rules.
Trbojevic was the unbackable favourite and, as he did so many times this season, skipped clear with the finish line in sight. He polled 35 points, five clear of Penrith half Nathan Cleary and six in front of Walker, despite playing just 15 regular-season games.
“It means everything, words can’t describe it,” Trbojevic said. “The last couple of years on the injury front - even the start of this year - if you look back to March and told me I’d be standing here as the Dally M medallist, I would have told you you’re kidding yourself.
“I was just out there having fun with my best mates. Winning footy games is my motivation - it’s not receiving praise externally.”
Tom Trbojevic was a clear winner of the Dally M Medal. Credit: Getty
Trbojevic totalled just 19 games throughout the 2019 and 2020 seasons due to injury and started to doubt whether he would ever be able to take flight again. But once he did there was no stopping him, and he believes the best is yet to come.
“I definitely did (worry). I always knew I could get back out there; it was just a matter of staying out there and doing it. Because that’s what you need to do, not just for myself, but the team. I definitely was worried there but we have a really good team at Manly, very thankful for them,” Trbojevic said.
He injured his hamstring again in the pre-season, saying he slipped in a bathroom the day after his infamous race down the Manly Corso with “Harry”. Trbojevic said that moment had changed his life and career more than most people would recognise.
He gave up drinking until season’s end, and said he is only now fully aware of the sacrifices he needs to make to ensure he remains one of the best players in the game.
“It’s a bigger part than people realise. It wasn’t an ideal way to start for me and it wasn’t a great look for myself and Manly. I had to cop that and change a few things in my life to make me a better footy player, and I think I was able to do that, which is pleasing,” Trbojevic said.
“It just made me focus on what’s important, and I just sacrificed a few things to make sure I was back out there playing footy.”
Earlier in night, Roosters fullback James Tedesco was named captain of the year after he helped a club stricken by serious injury and retirement into another finals series. He paid tribute to former captain Boyd Cordner, who retired midway through the year after multiple concussions.
James Tedesco has been named Captain of the Year after leading the battered Roosters into the finals.Credit: Getty
“It was a crazy year for us with a lot of setbacks and disappointments but I couldn’t be prouder to lead the club,” Tedesco said.
“I want to thank Robbo [coach Trent Robinson] for true leadership, he guided us through it all. To Boyd Cordner, I leaned on him in important times. His presence was awesome all year for us.”
His Roosters teammate, Sam Walker, was named Rookie of the Year after some eye-catching performances in the key playmaking role for the Tricolours, which yielded eight tries and 19 try assists. He was still making the highlights reel in the finals, when he kicked the winning field goal against the Titans.
“The belief that was instilled in me through the club, Robbo and players this year was brilliant,” Walker said. “They allowed me to go out there and play my game. I would not be here without the club and what they’ve done for me the last two years.”
Craig Bellamy was Coach of the Year, having steered the Storm to a record-equalling 19 consecutive victories and the minor premiership. They were knocked out by the Panthers in the preliminary final but it didn’t dimish their brilliant regular season.
“I know all our members in Melbourne have had it pretty tough not being able to watch live, but they would’ve been glued to the television,” Bellamy said.
“I know it was a disappointing finish, but what the boys did this year was quite incredible. The players did a great job being away for two years; sometimes we had our families with us and sometimes we didn’t. I’ve enjoyed what the players have provided for us.”
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