Trbojevic brothers moving on from Origin disappointment
Jasper Bruce |
Manly players say “gun” Tom Trbojevic is already at peace with his State of Origin snubbing and brother Jake “bleeds for his state” even as he too will miss the series opener.
Tom Trbojevic was the odd man out when Laurie Daley named his NSW team on Sunday night, the Blues coach preferring Stephen Crichton, Zac Lomax, Latrell Mitchell and Brian To’o as outside backs for Origin I on May 28.
The omission means Trbojevic’s Origin absence stretches almost two years – his longest hiatus since making his debut during the 2018 series.
“I’m sure he would’ve loved to be in the team but I think Turbo’s brushed it off,” Manly centre Tolu Koula said ahead of Friday’s game against Parramatta.
“His main focus now is doing the job that we need him to do here at Manly.”
Trbojevic appears the next man in line for a call-up should injury strike the outside backs in game one, with fellow Blues hopeful Jacob Kiraz now sidelined by a calf issue.
“He’ll be back there very soon I think,” predicted Manly forward Ethan Bullemor.
“The calibre of person he is as well, I don’t think he’s one who’d ever be kicking stones. I think he’ll have a really good attitude and really good mindset this week.”
Manly centre Reuben Garrick tipped the omission could bring out the best in his long-time teammate.
“Tom’s a very competitive person and I’m sure that it’ll only bring fuel to the fire,” he said.
“Tom would be in my (NSW) side but I’m not the one picking it. Fingers crossed he puts some good games together and he’s back in that arena.
“It’s Tom Trbojevic, at the end of the day. He’s a gun.”
Trbojevic’s brother Jake will also miss out on Origin action come May 28 after suffering a game-ending head knock in last week’s defeat of North Queensland.
The elder Trbojevic, who captained NSW to a series win last year, wouldn’t have cleared the NRL’s concussion protocols until the day of the series opener.
“I’m sure Jakey just wants to see the Blues win, whether he’s out there or not, he bleeds for his state. He’ll be right behind the whole team I’m sure,” Garrick said.
AAP
