NRL fans all say same thing after Manly make 'sad' decision on Tom Trbojevic
The Manly Sea Eagles reportedly held mini-crisis talks on Monday after their latest shock defeat and it's been suggested star fullback Tom Trbojevic is set for a permanent move to centre. Manly were left stunned last Thursday having been humbled at the hands of the Titans to see them drop out of the eight and into 11th place.
Manly have now lost three of their last four games and fans have been growing increasingly frustrated with the performances. The Daly Cherry-Evans saga could be starting to take its toll on the playing group with the halfback's next club still not announced. The drama appears to have finally unsettled the fan base with the halfback's form also dipping.
But one of the major concerns across the last few weeks has been the fitness and form of Trbojevic. The star fullback is the highest-paid player at the club and was once considered one of the best fullbacks in the game.
Although three separate injuries so far in 2025 appears to have hampered the 28-year-old who has looked a shadow of himself this year. And after Trbojevic spent some time at centre last year - when returning from injury - it appears the move could be his new home going forward.
Coach Anthony Seibold is under immense pressure to turn things around and reportedly held a seven-minute session with each player over their performances. And in this meeting it was decided Trbojevic would move to centre having visibly lost his mobility and agility this year.
This will allow Lehi Hopoate to remain at fullback with the Sea Eagles looking more threatening with his speed and athleticism at the back. And few Manly fans have disagreed with Seibold's move. Only a couple of weeks ago, Bryan Fletcher encouraged Manly to make the move as they waited for Trbojevic to return from injury.
"He is way too good, it's clearly evident, he needs to be around the ball because things happen," Fletcher said on SEN Radio. "He is too valuable to this team to be playing on the wing. I know Tom is a terrific fullback...he has to be in the centres. Things happen around Hopoate."
SEN Radio host Jimmy Smith went further and said Trbojevic looked like a 'shell' of his former self. "He is a shell of his former self and it is so sad to see. He can't explode, he has no strength in his legs, he can't break a tackle...it's not Tom Trbojevic. Manly what do you do?" he said on Monday. "It is so sad to see..."
The move is expected to see Jason Saab drop out of the backline as Seibold looks to reignite their season. The move could help boost Manly with Seibold facing pressure in the team's two next home games against the Wests Tigers and the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
As much as I want Turbo at the back.. this is a good move to, hopefully, give some consistency to our spine which we've lacked for years now.. and it shows in the year to year of yoyo results.All be it mass changes to the spine mid-season is not ideal..
— Silvatails (@Goodsy2008) June 16, 2025
Yes there is Saab goes Garrick to wing and turbo to centre 🤷♂️
— Eaglesrule (@eaglesrule1802) June 16, 2025
I've been saying this all year.
— UptheWahs 95 (@CharlieMetge) June 16, 2025
Despite the loss, the Sea Eagles were looking at another horror injury when Haumole Olakau'atu went off clutching at his shoulder. The big second-rower has been Manly's best forward this year and was looking at a season-ending injury.
Although the star has avoided shoulder surgery in a welcome boost and could be back after four to six weeks. Another long-term injury would have rocked the club with Taniela Paseka (achilles) already missing from their forward stocks.
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