Tom Trbojevic reveals how brother Jake and former skipper Daly Cherry-Evans reacted to Manly captaincy news
New Manly captain Tom Trbojevic has opened up about his conversation with brother Jake and the text exchange with Daly Cherry-Evans after being handed the leadership role at the Sea Eagles.
Tom Trbojevic has revealed that his predecessor Daly Cherry-Evans was among the former Manly captains who reached out to congratulate him on being handed the ultimate honour of leading the club into the 2026 season.
Trbojevic’s ascent to the captaincy was announced last week but the Sea Eagles superstar fronted the media for the first time on Wednesday, where he spoke about his pride at leading his junior club, his conversation with brother and captaincy candidate Jake Trbojevic, and that text exchange with Cherry-Evans.
Cherry-Evans’ decision to walk out on Manly was one of the stories of last season but Trbojevic insists that he always had a good relationship with his former skipper and halfback.
“I have a good relationship with Chez,” Trbojevic said.
“It was a quick conversation. He said it is obviously a great honour and there is nothing better than running out before a packed hill at Brookie.
“I have had some past captains reach out to me and I will definitely draw on some of their knowledge. There’s a lot of good people around. I played with some great captains here as well.”
Cherry-Evans was unveiled by the Roosters last week, having made the decision to spend the final years of his career playing alongside Sam Walker in the halves for Manly’s Sydney rivals.
“I am not going to lie, it did look weird seeing him in Roosters colours,” Trbojevic said.
“He is doing what he wants to do. There’s no bad feeling about that whatsoever. I am happy for him on his next journey. He has been a great player and person for this club.
“He has decided to move on and we respect that.”
TELLING JAKE
When Cherry-Evans announced his plans to leave Manly at the end of this season, one of the natural questions was who would replace him as captain.
There was support for Haumole Olakau’atu but the smart money was on Jake Trbojevic given he had led the club before and was widely regarded as their emotional and spiritual leader.
Jake Trbojevic had finished this season on the sidelines recovering from head knocks and the uncertainty over his future - he is yet to decide whether he will play beyond 2026 - no doubt played a part in coach Anthony Seibold’s thinking.
So, you would imagine, did Tom Trbojevic’s standing not just at Manly, but in the game. There may be no more influential player in clubland than Turbo.
When he plays, Manly win more often than not. When he is on the sidelines, their chances plummet. Still, when Tom Trbojevic was given the news by Seibold, one of his first calls was to brother Jake.
“I wouldn’t say it is awkward by any means,” Trbojevic said.
“I think Jake, that would have been something he would have liked to do if you talk to him. He rightfully can be disappointed about that but he is happy for me and happy that I get to do it, and he gets to be alongside me when I do it.
“Like anyone, he would want to be captain of this great club. He is a very proud Manly guy as well.”
The good news is that Jake is due back at training next week and expected to be ready for round one.
“Obviously the way he finished last season with his head was a little bit disappointing for him,” Tom Trbojevic said.
“He feels good, he is back into training. I don’t think he has made a decision on what he is going to do post next year but I feel like he has time to do that.
LEADING THE WAY
Tom Trbojevic isn’t the type to court controversy. In public, he can be guarded. Behind closed doors, however, he insists he won’t baulk at delivering some home truths if necessary.
As a fullback, his communication skills on the field rank among the very elite. He doesn’t mind barking instructions or setting standards. Asked what sort of captain he would be, Trbojevic laughed.
“A dictator,” he quipped.
“I don’t think it is going to change the person and player I am. Obviously it is a bit of extra responsibility I am looking forward to it.
“Look I am still a very easy going person who has a bit of fun but looking forward definitely to the extra responsibility. I feel like especially on the footy field, I have a voice and I have learnt over time from people that as a fullback, you need to have a voice.
“That’s something I guess I will probably need to continue with and grow with. There are two sides to it - it is easy to praise someone but sometimes you need to have hard conversations.
“That’s footy, that’s life, that’s everything. We have good people here to help me with and I am not going to shy away from that. As a fullback, you need be quite direct with some of the things you say.”
LIFE AFTER DCE
Trbojevic has captained Manly on two occasions in a fill-in capacity. Before that, his only captaincy experience had been one game in his junior years.
He takes over a club at a crossroad of sorts. Chief executive Tony Mestrov will leave before Christmas and former captain Jason King - one of the players who reached out to Trbojevic when he was handed the leadership - will step into the breach.
Manly will also spend the preseason working on combinations with a new halfback - Jamal Fogarty has replaced Cherry-Evans,
“It naturally changes a little bit,” Trbojevic said.
“I can’t give you an answer to what it looks like — Jamal is a different player to what Chez is. He is going to come in and bring his strengths.
“We’re going to try to help him play to his strengths because ultimately if your halfback is playing well, you win more games than you lose.
“I think it will be great. I have met him a few times and have just got back to training this week and he has been awesome for us - a really good leader and a great talker.
“I think he is going to be awesome for the club. He comes from a minor premiership-winning team at the Raiders so he knows what success looks like.”
The Sea Eagles are also fighting to keep their squad together as rival clubs and codes circle centres Reuben Garrick and Tolu Koula. Garrick has an offer on the table from the Sydney Roosters which is believed to be worth about $1.3 million for 2027 and 2028.
Koula has an option for 2027 but Manly want to extend his contract. Trbojevic would love them both to stay.
“I am just going to say I would absolutely love Reuben to stay,” he said.
“I have played with him for the last six or seven years and he is a great person, great player and great bloke. We would love to keep him.
“He (Koula) was massive - he was our best player last year. I’m not too sure where they’re both at. But their integral players and parts of our team, and I would love to have them both here.”
THE ULTIMATE HONOUR
Trbojevic is a decade into his first grade career and the ultimate honour has continued to evade him. The Sea Eagles have’t won a premiership since 2011 and their best hope of breaking that drought will be if Trbojevic can stay fit and find his best form.
If that happens, Manly are capable of beating anyone. Crucially, the 29-year-old signed a one-year extension in the offseason that will ensure he is part of the furniture on Sydney’s northern beaches until at least the end of 2027.
“It is the ultimate motivation,” Trbojevic said.
“The reality is there is 17 teams standing here together and that’s what they want to achieve. We have a lot of work ahead of us. That’s the ultimate story - would definitely love to do it.”
Just imagine doing it as captain.
“It probably still hasn’t sunk in,” Trbojevic said.
“It is hard to put into words. When Seibs told me it was such an honour and I was kind of taken back a bit. I was a kid who once admired some of the great captains here.
“To play, let alone captain this great club, is such an honour and something I am so privileged to have that tag beside me. I can’t wait to lead this great club out. I have always wanted to stay here. If Manly want me I am happy to stay here.
“I love this club and that has never changed. I am really focusing on being the best player, best person and best captain I can be.”
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Originally published as Tom Trbojevic reveals how brother Jake and former skipper Daly Cherry-Evans reacted to Manly captaincy news
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