It doesn’t get easier for Tom Trbojevic to sit on the sidelines, but his injury struggles won’t scare the Manly fullback from switching to five-eighth if required, or playing extra footy for NSW.
Pectoral, shoulder, hamstring and other injuries have combined to restrict Trbojevic to only 67 of a possible 129 appearances for Manly since the beginning of the 2020 season.
A two-word mantra helped Trbojevic cope with his latest setback, a three-week knee lay-off from which he returned against Penrith on Saturday.
“S*** happens, sometimes,” Trbojevic said of his injuries after Manly’s 26-10 win.
“The quicker you can realise that and move forward (the better).
“You can only really say that you want to be out there playing. When you’re not, it’s disappointing, it’s hard, but life is hard sometimes.
“We’re very lucky we’ve got a lot of people in our corner that help in that area, but it doesn’t get easier.”
Trbojevic’s latest injury came only a day after Manly coach Anthony Seibold said he was a genuine halves option at Manly for 2026 once Daly Cherry-Evans departs.
Manly have since emerged as favourites to sign Canberra halfback Jamal Fogarty for next season, with the Raiders conceding they could not match the Sea Eagles’ offer of a three-year deal.
But playing Trbojevic at five-eighth next to Luke Brooks appears Manly’s contingency plan, given younger prospects Joey Walsh and Onitoni Large are still not considered ready for first grade.
In that case, Trbojevic would likely line up on the right side of the field, where he does his most destructive work in attack, rather than the five-eighth’s traditional left edge.
As well as learning a completely new position, playing five-eighth would mean defending in the front-line and opening himself up to a greater risk of injury.
Even after yet another injury setback, Trbojevic won’t be discouraged from playing five-eighth if that’s what Manly need.
“If I’m sitting back worrying about what’s going to happen, the reality is something bad probably will happen,” Trbojevic said.
“I understand people are going to talk about (the greater risk of injury) and that’s fine, but that’s not really my focus.
“It’s everyone else’s job to think that way. I’m confident when I’m back playing footy that I just want to play footy.
“If ‘Seibs’ and the coaching staff want me to play six, I’m happy to do it.”
Manly have the bye in Magic Round, but Trbojevic has two more games to reaffirm his State of Origin credentials after a hamstring issue thwarted his hopes of playing in last year’s series.
Traditionally an outside back in Origin, Trbojevic also memorably suffered a season-ending pectoral injury playing for NSW in Origin II, 2023.
Trbojevic conceded playing for NSW meant putting club footy second, but said he was not ready to turn his back on the representative arena.
“It’s a really hard one,” he said.
“You want to play for NSW, it’s a proud thing to do, but then again you don’t want that to take away from Manly.
“(But) I don’t think I’m willing to give that up just yet, I really love playing for NSW.”
