‘The best player in the comp’: Tom Trbojevic’s message to the doubters who questioned his State of Origin value

Nathan Cleary has issued a warning to Queensland by declaring Tom Trbojevic the best player in the world when he’s fully fit.

Tom Trbojevic says it was tough to block out the external criticism when he knew deep down that his body was fine. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Tom Trbojevic says he never doubted his own fitness but concedes the constant questioning wore him down before he was able to silence his critics with a stunning three-try effort against Canberra to seal his return to the State of Origin arena.

The Sea Eagles fullback has been one of the Blues’ best players in recent years, winning the 2021 Wally Lewis Medal only to miss last year’s series due to a serious shoulder injury.

Tom Trbojevic has had to deal with several injury setbacks since he was judged the best player in the 2021 State of Origin series. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

He was always considered an automatic selection as long as he was fit, but there were fears the player we saw in 2021 when he was the most dominant figure in the NRL was slipping away due to niggling injuries.

Trbojevic produced solid numbers but they were nothing compared to what we’re used to, which is why a lot of people left him out of their NSW sides, with Campbell Graham tipped to replace him at right centre.

But that all changed on Sunday with a hat-trick and nine tackle busts, matching his haul from the previous five weeks combined, which is why no one was surprised to see him picked in the centres for the series opener on May 31.

Any doubt over his fitness was put to bed with three tries in Manly’s big win over Canberra. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

“I didn’t really doubt myself, but it does wear you down a little bit with all the external commentary. You can’t really escape it these days,” he said.

“That’s just a part of it and it was something I had to accept.

“It wasn’t personal doubt.

“It wasn’t hurting me. You just get commentary about how your body is feeling and people are telling you that you’re not right when you know you feel good within yourself.

“That stuff can be a little bit frustrating, but I understand I wasn’t playing well enough. I know that comes off the back of it, so I’m not going to sugar-coat it and be like everyone should praise me when I’m not playing well.”

One of the major criticisms was that he was only running at 80 per cent due to a number of serious hamstring injuries, but Trbojevic insists that’s not the case and that he didn’t need to convince Blues coach Brad Fittler of his fitness.

Trbojevic has played through the pain in the past, but he says he’s fully fit ahead of next week’s Origin opener. Picture: NRL Photos

“I feel like it,” he replied when asked if he was running at top speed after back-rower Briton Nikora was able to run around him two weeks ago.

“It feels like people can look at me and work out what per cent I’m running at. I definitely feel really good. That’s all just external noise.

“I’m pretty close with Freddy, but there were no chats about that. He’s got a job to do to pick the team and I didn’t want to get in the way of that. I left that up to him.”

Fittler has often spoken of not rushing to name his team, with the coach only writing potential players’ names in pencil until the final game of the round is over.

It’s why he was never ready to rule Trbojevic in or out, with “Turbo” sealing the deal in the final game on Sunday.

“It was a heavy lead pencil … very dark,” Fittler replied when asked about Trbojevic.

“We’ve always considered Tommy if he’s available. You talk about a gamble, well, we’ve got to gamble that he’s going to be ready. Very rarely has he ever let us down.”

The Blues are favourites to win the series, with Trbojevic set to combine with Nathan Cleary on both sides of the field. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Teammates can’t wait to have the superstar back on the field, with Trbojevic set to roam across the field like he did in 2021 when he scored four tries in the series win.

“We missed him last year,” halfback Nathan Cleary said.

“It was great to watch him against Canberra. He was back to his best, and when Turbo’s at his best, he’s probably the best player in the comp.”

Originally published as ‘The best player in the comp’: Tom Trbojevic’s message to the doubters who questioned his State of Origin value