Latest news with #Trbojevic
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Not allowed': NSW caught in rule breach drama over State of Origin selection
NRL fans are calling for change to the farcical rules around the 18th man in State of Origin, after it was revealed on Thursday night that Tom Trbojevic knocked back the chance to be NSW's emergency player in Game 1 so he could play for Manly. And it raises questions about whether the rules were breached by allowing him to do so. Bulldogs fans are fuming that Matt Burton is once again 18th man for the Blues in Game 2, given it means he can't play club footy this weekend. Because the 18th man has become such a vital player on game-day and could be called into action if a player is ruled out through an act of foul play, they need to be training with their respective Origin teams all week. The other members of the extended squads are released back to their clubs for the weekend's games, but the 18th man has to stay in camp and remain fully-fit to play. It means Burton will miss a fifth game for the Bulldogs while serving a role for NSW that means he's every chance to sit on the sideline all game. The situation was made even worse for Burton and Bulldogs fans on Thursday when Jarome Luai was parachuted into the starting team to replace the injured Mitchell Moses at five-eighth, despite not being named in the initial squad. Burton was named 18th man earlier this week, and many feel he's been hard done by to not be replacing Moses. Nathan Hindmarsh said on Triple M radio on Thursday: "I've got to feel a little bit disappointed for Burton. He's been carried as 18th man before, just give him a run. I think his combination with Nathan Cleary would have worked alright." RELATED: Laurie Daley's concerning admission about NSW player under cloud Selwyn Cobbo tipped for sad Broncos exit after 'secret meeting' If Burton and the Bulldogs weren't already annoyed enough, a new revelation about Trbojevic will add to the frustration. Michael Chammas of revealed on Thursday night that Turbo was picked as 18th man for Origin 1, but withdrew so he could play for Manly that weekend. It remains to be seen whether the Bulldogs knew that was an option for Burton as well. Trbojevic has been plagued by injury over the last few years and reportedly felt obliged to knock back a spot in the Blues' squad so he could be available for the Sea Eagles against Parramatta. But it seemingly breaks NRL rules around representative games, with players not allowed to withdraw from rep footy unless they're injured or have a compelling reason. The rule reared its head last year when Kalyn Ponga was forced to backflip and make himself available for Kangaroos selection, even though he eventually wasn't picked anyway. "The 18th man shouldn't be selected until the Sunday night before an Origin," Chammas wrote. "Allow the states to pick extended squads as they do now, but send players 18, 19 and 20 back to their clubs. And at the end of the round, having determined everyone's fitness, then decide who [the 18th man] should be." NRL fans made the same argument on social media on Thursday, particularly after Burton was overlooked in favour of Luai to replace Moses. Many described it as a "joke" that Burton can't play for the Bulldogs this weekend, and the revelation about Trbojevic only adds to the controversy. Many pointed out that the 18th man should simply be picked from a team on the bye to avoid any drama, as was the case with Campbell Graham in Game 1 (after Turbo withdrew). So let me get this straight:👉 Burton, 18th man, and is unavailable for Bulldogs.👉Moses gets ruled outObvious thing to do? Request an exemption from the NRL and leave Burton 18th man 💀These rules, and Laurie Daley, are a joke 🤡 DISRESPECTED #stateoforigin — Larry Taylor (@thelarrytaylor) June 12, 2025 Geez Burton must feel awesome. — T Hampshire (@trenthampshire) June 12, 2025 Absolute joke release Burton now!!! 18th man WTAF!!! — Craig Brian Peter Coyle (@cbpcoyle) June 12, 2025 Let them pick THREE after the round and they can use any of the three depending on who is injured. All sides - club and state - get a better a deal. — cowsandguns (@sc_cowsandguns) June 12, 2025 Understand with 19th and 20th But 18th should be fresh. As we've seen with Moses going down. But controversly they have not used the 18th — Rob Cotterill (@robbiecotterill) June 12, 2025 Burton is too valuable at 18th Man. It just makes sense to bring in Luai in this situation. I mean, he's only won 4 Premierships with the 1,7&13 — Mike Scolz (@skulzy87) June 12, 2025
Sydney Morning Herald
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Trbojevic knocked back NSW 18th man job to play for Manly. He shouldn't have to choose
Of the 20 teams that have taken the field since the 18th man was introduced into State of Origin back in 2022, only one of those has been in a position to activate the concussion substitute. That came in game one of the 2024 series, when Felise Kaufusi was activated after eight minutes following a head-high tackle from Joseph Suaalii on Reece Walsh which resulted in the NSW debutant being sent off and the Queensland fullback ruled out of the game through concussion. Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton will next week be NSW's 18th man for the fifth time in the 11 games since the concussion substitute was introduced. However, the rules stipulate that he is ineligible to play for the Bulldogs against South Sydney this Sunday – the third time will have missed a Bulldogs game for a five per cent chance of being activated by the Blues. NSW sources with knowledge of team selection for game one said Trbojevic was initially selected as the NSW Blues' 18th man for the opening game of the series. Trbojevic, however, declined the invitation because it meant he was made to choose between his state and club. Trbojevic has long been burdened by a guilt that his body has prohibited him from providing Manly value for the money they pay him. It's why he volunteered to take a $750,000 pay cut last year before the NRL intervened and rejected his request due to salary cap reasons. With his team struggling for form and licking their wounds after a round 10 loss to Cronulla, Trbojevic – having already missed four of his side's first 10 games of the year, told the Blues he felt obliged to play for Manly the following week rather than join the Blues in camp for 10 days with no guarantee of playing. The Blues duly called Campbell Graham into the squad as the 18th man, but it should have never come to that. The rules allow the 19th and 20th players in Origin squads to be released from the respective NSW and Queensland camps to rejoin their clubs this weekend. So Keaon Koloamatangi, NSW's 19th player, will go back to South Sydney to try to help them knock off the Burton-less Bulldogs. How is that that fair? Burton is 18th man on game day, not the next in line. When Blues five-eighth Mitch Moses went down on Thursday, NSW called Jarome Luai in to take his place instead of the 18th man who plays the very same position. When Brian To'o pulled up sore, they didn't reshuffle their backline to accommodate Burton – they brought in Jacob Kiraz. The NRL will argue that they are concerned about player workloads. That they don't want Matt Burton having to play on Sunday and then potentially (albeit only a 5 per cent chance) back up three days later for the Blues. But it's OK for the NRL to send five Penrith players on an economy-class, seven-hour red-eye flight from Perth to Auckland to try and salvage their season against the Warriors three days after Origin? No wonder Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is likely to rest them. There's an obvious solution, at least to the 18th man debacle and not the scheduling farce facing the reigning champions. The 18th man shouldn't be selected until the Sunday night before an Origin. Allow the states to pick extended squads as they do now, but send players 18, 19 and 20 back to their clubs. And at the end of the round, having determined everyone's fitness, then decide who Mr 5 per cent should be. Burton misses this weekend's game for the Bulldogs. Next week, they have the bye and he has another week off. By the time he plays again, he wouldn't have played a game of footy for three weeks. In what world is that good for NSW or the Bulldogs?
The Age
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Trbojevic knocked back NSW 18th man job to play for Manly. He shouldn't have to choose
Of the 20 teams that have taken the field since the 18th man was introduced into State of Origin back in 2022, only one of those has been in a position to activate the concussion substitute. That came in game one of the 2024 series, when Felise Kaufusi was activated after eight minutes following a head-high tackle from Joseph Suaalii on Reece Walsh which resulted in the NSW debutant being sent off and the Queensland fullback ruled out of the game through concussion. Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton will next week be NSW's 18th man for the fifth time in the 11 games since the concussion substitute was introduced. However, the rules stipulate that he is ineligible to play for the Bulldogs against South Sydney this Sunday – the third time will have missed a Bulldogs game for a five per cent chance of being activated by the Blues. NSW sources with knowledge of team selection for game one said Trbojevic was initially selected as the NSW Blues' 18th man for the opening game of the series. Trbojevic, however, declined the invitation because it meant he was made to choose between his state and club. Trbojevic has long been burdened by a guilt that his body has prohibited him from providing Manly value for the money they pay him. It's why he volunteered to take a $750,000 pay cut last year before the NRL intervened and rejected his request due to salary cap reasons. With his team struggling for form and licking their wounds after a round 10 loss to Cronulla, Trbojevic – having already missed four of his side's first 10 games of the year, told the Blues he felt obliged to play for Manly the following week rather than join the Blues in camp for 10 days with no guarantee of playing. The Blues duly called Campbell Graham into the squad as the 18th man, but it should have never come to that. The rules allow the 19th and 20th players in Origin squads to be released from the respective NSW and Queensland camps to rejoin their clubs this weekend. So Keaon Koloamatangi, NSW's 19th player, will go back to South Sydney to try to help them knock off the Burton-less Bulldogs. How is that that fair? Burton is 18th man on game day, not the next in line. When Blues five-eighth Mitch Moses went down on Thursday, NSW called Jarome Luai in to take his place instead of the 18th man who plays the very same position. When Brian To'o pulled up sore, they didn't reshuffle their backline to accommodate Burton – they brought in Jacob Kiraz. The NRL will argue that they are concerned about player workloads. That they don't want Matt Burton having to play on Sunday and then potentially (albeit only a 5 per cent chance) back up three days later for the Blues. But it's OK for the NRL to send five Penrith players on an economy-class, seven-hour red-eye flight from Perth to Auckland to try and salvage their season against the Warriors three days after Origin? No wonder Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is likely to rest them. There's an obvious solution, at least to the 18th man debacle and not the scheduling farce facing the reigning champions. The 18th man shouldn't be selected until the Sunday night before an Origin. Allow the states to pick extended squads as they do now, but send players 18, 19 and 20 back to their clubs. And at the end of the round, having determined everyone's fitness, then decide who Mr 5 per cent should be. Burton misses this weekend's game for the Bulldogs. Next week, they have the bye and he has another week off. By the time he plays again, he wouldn't have played a game of footy for three weeks. In what world is that good for NSW or the Bulldogs?
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Daley's admission about Jake Trbojevic and Terrell May after Mitch Barnett blow
NSW coach Laurie Daley is considering former captain Jake Trbojevic and Tigers prop Terrell May as possible replacements for the injured Mitch Barnett having been forced to make a change for State of Origin 2. Fans were left devastated for Barnett after the NSW enforcer went down grasping at his leg on the weekend in the Warriors' win against the Rabbitohs. The Warriors forward was one of the best players for NSW with his aggression helping his team win field territory against Queensland in Origin 1. But after being ruled out for the rest of the season, Daley has been forced to look elsewhere to fill the position. Bulldogs prop Max King will likely shift to the starting side alongside Game 1 player-of-the-match Payne Haas, which leaves a front-row position available on the bench. Stefano Utoikamanu was a surprise selection in the NSW squad for Game 1, with many stunned Daley didn't go with May. Utoikamanu was on standby for Haas due to a quad injury, but Haas was later ruled fit to play. Speaking on Tuesday, Daley suggested Utoikamanu could slot right onto the bench having already been around camp for the series opener. However he didn't rule out bringing former captain Trbojevic back into the fold as NSW look to seal the series in Perth. Trbojevic captained NSW to the series win last year, but played very few minutes across the three games. The forward was on the cusp of being dropped for Game 1, but he suffered a concussion playing for club team Manly and it ended his chances of playing at Suncorp. Daley suggested on Tuesday that the experience of the former NSW captain could be handy for Game 2 in Perth. He also said May and Souths prop Keaon Koloamatangi will come into calculations amid some brilliant form at NRL level. 'You've got Terrell May there who has been playing some really good football this year for the Tigers,' Daley said on SEN Radio. 'We had Stefano (Utoikamanu) in camp… Stefano was going to come in if Payne (Haas) didn't come up so he's obviously one of the front runners. 'Keaon Koloamatangi's been excellent the last few weeks. He's another one we're looking at. Jake (Trbojevic) hasn't played football, but we're hoping he may be able to get some football this weekend and if he does, then I'm sure that a guy of his experience and leadership will come up in conversations as well.' Trbojevic's inclusion would raise some eyebrows with a number of front-rowers certainly exceeding his efforts in 2025. Across the last few weeks, Koloamatangi has arguably been the standout forward of the competition. Koloamatangi was moved to prop in recent weeks and has thrown up some barnstorming efforts having run for more than 200 metres in his last three games. On average he has made more than 40 tackles per game and scored against the Warriors on the weekend. Few could argue Koloamatangi deserves a call-up, but May has also been strong to start the season. But Daley is looking for that aggression that Barnett brought, which doesn't translate to stats. 'I think some of the work that Mitch (Barnett) did… when you go back and review the tape, some of the things you miss on game night,' Daley said. 'When you go back and analyze it, you just look at what he provided for the team. He was great and that to me is where it starts upfront, isn't it?" RELATED: Laurie Daley urged to backflip after NSW forward ruled out of Origin NRL fans left saddened over news about Tim Sheens and Robbie Farah Speaking after the announcement of his NSW Game 1 squad, Daley defended his decision to omit May. 'I think it was more about the fact that other players have been playing particularly well. Max King, what he's been able to do has been excellent," the coach said. "Terrell's playing some really good football and like all the others he's just got to keep banging down the door and his opportunity will come at some stage, But we just thought at this stage in Game 1 that's the team we wanted to go with. Max Deserves his chance. Stefano has really improved out of sight the past couple of weeks.'
News.com.au
04-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Manly ‘keen to keep' Jake & Turbo
NRL: Anthony Seibold is adamant that Manly will do everything they can to keep both Jake and Tom Trbojevic as one-club players.
