Manly appoints Tom Trbojevic as club captain after Daly Cherry-Evans exit
The Sea Eagles’ most influential player has accepted the ultimate responsibility. Coach Anthony Seibold reveals the moment he handed Tom Trbojevic the Manly captaincy.
Tom Trbojevic was officially unveiled as the successor to Daly Cherry-Evans as Manly’s new captain on Monday morning but his ascent to the role was confirmed a couple of weeks ago at a cafe on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Trbojevic was still on holidays when coach Anthony Seibold called to see whether his star fullback was keen to catch up for a chat to talk about next season. More importantly, he wanted to see whether Tom Trbojevic was ready to lead the club he had adored since he was a child.
“I took Turbo for a coffee a couple of weeks ago,” Seibold said.
“He was very proud. It’s a great personal milestone for Turbo - he is a Manly junior and it’s something he’s really proud to take on.
“I just feel like at this point of his career for Turbo to be captain - he is one of the smartest players in the way he prepares.
“We all know the elite level he can play at. As a club we thought there was a good opportunity for Turbo.
“We’ll have plenty of support around him. We have some really good leaders in our group like Jake (Trbojevic), Haumole (Olakau’atu) and now Jamal (Fogarty) from Canberra.
“So there’s plenty of guys to support Turbo.”
Trbojevic is as Manly as they come. A local junior who grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches, he has played 170 games for the club since making his first grade debut in 2015.
Along with brothers Jake and Ben, Tom Trbojevic bleeds maroon and white. Few players or families are as passionate about the jersey.
“This means a lot to me, and I’m thrilled to take on the captaincy,” Trbojevic said.
“It’s a privilege and I feel very honoured to take on the role. It’s a proud moment.
“The next few months of pre-season will be tough but it’s an exciting time for all of us as we prepare for the new season.”
Trbojevic demonstrated his commitment to the club by recently signing a one-year extension that will ensure he remains at Manly until at least the end of 2027.
He agreed to fresh terms amid interest from Super League and that loyalty has now been rewarded with the ultimate honour.
Trbojevic takes charge of a Manly side looking to bounce back after a disappointing season which was overshadowed by the shock decision of Cherry-Evans to announce he was leaving the club.
The Sea Eagles missed the finals, their cause not helped by the absence of Tom Trbojevic for six games.
His importance to the club is reflected in their record when he is on the field. When Tom Trbojevic plays, the Sea Eagles win 60 percent of their games.
In his absence, that winning percentage plummets. There may be no more important or influential player in the game and his value to Manly has now been reflected in his rise to the captaincy.
“Everyone’s got a different leadership style,” Seibold said.
“There is not one way for leadership. The position that Turbo plays, he has great influence in our team.
“He has been part of the leadership group for a number of years now. With Chez (Cherry-Evans) departing, I just felt like at this stage of Turbo’s career he was ready to step up.
“Captaincy is no longer a one-man job. You look at most clubs in the NRL - there might be one designated captain, but there’s four or five leaders at each of the clubs who have real influence on the playing group.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Manly appoints Tom Trbojevic as club captain after Daly Cherry-Evans exit
Turbo reveals how DCE, Jake responded to shock captaincy call
