Wikipedia

Tom Trbojevic

Thomas Peter Trbojevic (born 2 October 1996),[2] also nicknamed "Tommy Turbo",[3][4] is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a fullback for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Tom Trbojevic
Personal information
Full nameThomas Peter Trbojevic
Born (1996-10-02) 2 October 1996 (age 28)
Mona Vale, New South Wales, Australia
Height194 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight102 kg (16 st 1 lb)
Playing information
PositionFullback, Wing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2015– Manly Sea Eagles 152 105 0 0 420
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2017 Prime Minister's XIII 1 3 0 0 12
2017–24 Australia 7 6 0 0 24
2018–23 New South Wales 10 9 0 0 36
Source: [1]
As of 21 september 2024

He has represented Australia at international level, New South Wales at State of Origin level and Prime Minister's XIII at representative level as a centre and winger.

Background

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Trbojevic played his junior rugby league for the Mona Vale Juniors before being signed by the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Trbojevic also played Australian rules from the age of 12 and was Sydney Swans AFL Academy between the ages of 14 and 17 and credits this experience to improving his aerial game.[5][6]

Despite playing for both Australia in junior representative teams, Trbojevic gained an ATAR of 94.3 in his HSC at Pittwater High School, achieving the top band for 2 and 3-unit mathematics.[2] He studied a double degree in Applied Finance and Economics at Macquarie University.[7][8]

Trbojevic is of Serbian descent. Tom is the brother of fellow Manly Warringah Sea Eagles players Jake Trbojevic and Ben Trbojevic.[9] Another brother, Luke, is not involved with the NRL.[7]

Playing career

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Early career

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In 2014 and 2015, Trbojevic played for the Manly-Warringah in their NYC side, playing 32 games, scoring 41 tries.[10][11] In June 2014, he played for the New South Wales Under-18s team.[12] On 25 September 2014, he re-signed with Manly on a two-year contract.[13]

2015

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Trbojevic started 2015 playing fullback for Manly's NYC team and crossed for 4 tries in the opening game of the season against the Parramatta Eels at Pirtek Stadium. He continued to play a starring role in the Under 20's as Manly won its first four games of the season until injuries forced first grade coach Geoff Toovey to promote him to make his NRL debut on the wing for Manly-Warringah in their round 5 game against the Canberra Raiders at the Lavington Sports Ground in Albury in country NSW.[14] Although Manly ultimately lost the game 29-16, Trbojevic scored a try with only his second touch of the ball and later crossed for his second try on debut.[15] Unfortunately, a high ankle injury suffered in the following round against the Penrith Panthers sidelined him for a number of weeks.

On 28 April, along with older brother Jake and fellow local junior Clint Gutherson, Trbojevic extended his contract with Manly from the end of 2016 to the end of 2017.[16]

Due to the quality of the Manly backline which included representative players Brett Stewart, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Peta Hiku and Jorge Taufua, Trbojevic has been forced to bide his time playing in the NYC while being used as an injury replacement winger for the Manly's NRL side. On 25 July against the New Zealand Warriors at the Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand, while playing fullback in the NYC, Trbojevic had his second 4 try game of the season (giving him 14 in 7 NYC games in 2015), accumulating a NYC record 466 running metres for the game, prompting calls for him to be made a permanent first grade player.[17] Two weeks before he had played his 7th first grade game, crossing for a double in Manly's 38-6 victory over the Gold Coast Titans, but was dropped for the next game against the North Queensland Cowboys in favour of returning New Zealand test centre Hiku. On 1 August following the Warriors game, he was again called into the NRL team as a replacement for Steve Matai who had been heavily concussed the week before against the Warriors. Trbojevic scored his third double of the season, including scooping up a loose ball and racing 70 metres to score the final try of the game, and played a starring role as Manly defeated the competition leading Brisbane Broncos 44-14 at the Central Coast Stadium in Gosford.[18]

Despite only having played only 8 games in first grade in 2015, all of them on the wing, Trbojevic's talent as a fullback was recognised when he was named in the position for Rugby League Week's 2015 NRL Rookie Team of the Year.[19] He was also named at fullback in the 2015 NYC Team of the Year.[20]

Trbojevic's final game for Manly in 2015 was the Holden Cup Grand Final played on NRL Grand Final day. Although he had another strong game and scored his 29th try in 22 games for the year (21 tries from 13 games in the under-20s and 8 tries in 9 NRL games), the Sea Eagles went down to the minor premiers Penrith Panthers 34-18.[21]

2016

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On 1 February, Trbojevic was named in Manly's 2016 NRL Auckland Nines squad.[22]

Trbojevic would play 23 games for the club in 2016, missing only round 9 due to a high ankle sprain suffered in the Anzac Day match against the Newcastle Knights. Although hampered by the injury which would require corrective surgery at the end of the season, he continued playing and was rewarded mid-season when he and brother Jake were called into the New South Wales squad before Game 3 of the 2016 State of Origin series as development players. He would go on to score 10 tries for the Sea Eagles after taking over from Brett Stewart at fullback (following season ending knee surgery to Stewart). On 7 September he was named as the Roy Bull Best and Fairest for the Sea Eagles 2016 season.[23]

2017

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With the injury enforced retirement of Brett Stewart, Trbojevic became Manly's first choice fullback for the 2017 NRL season. His form was such that he was predicted to be selected on the wing for New South Wales until suffering an injury in a game against the Brisbane Broncos on 13 May. Broncos halfback Kodi Nikorima put up a bomb which Trbojevic was forced to let bounce. With Brisbane winger David Mead flying through in his chase of the kick, Trbojevic was forced to leap to catch the ball and was tackled while in mid-air, coming down with his left leg buckling awkwardly underneath him.[24] He was diagnosed with a Medial ligament tear in his knee and syndesmosis in his ankle and was expected to be out for 6–8 weeks.[25] He finished the season with 22 games and 12 tries.[citation needed] At the end of the year, he was rewarded for this form with an Australian jersey, playing 2 games in the World Cup and scoring 1 try.[citation needed]

2018

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In round 4, Trbojevic injured his ankle in the final 10 minutes of the match and missed the following week's game.[26] On 6 June, he made the NSW team and won the series 2-1 with his brother Jake Trbojevic. Trbojevic played in all three of the New South Wales Blues games on the wing scoring two tries. At the end of the 2018 season, he played two test matches for Australia against New Zealand and Tonga playing in the centres where he scored two tries.

2019

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Trbojevic began the 2019 NRL season by scoring 2 tries against the New Zealand Warriors in Round 3 of the competition. In round 4, Trbojevic was taken from the field during Manly's win over South Sydney with a hamstring injury. Trbojevic subsequently missed out on the opening game of the 2019 State of Origin series. Trbojevic returned to the Manly side in Round 13 against North Queensland. After only 2 games back in the Manly team, Trbojevic was selected to play for New South Wales in Game 2 of the State of Origin series. On 23 June, Trbojevic scored a hat-trick as New South Wales defeated Queensland 38-6 at the new Perth Stadium.[27][28] Trbojevic was retained for Game 3 of the 2019 State of Origin series which was won by New South Wales 26-20 at ANZ Stadium. It was the first time since 2005 that New South Wales had won back to back series.[29] Manly's 2019 season was a story of success with Des Hasler resurgence, guiding the Manly team from 15th to 6th. While Trbojevic enjoyed success during the year with winning 10/12 of the games he played in, but the year was mostly defined but the two hamstring injures and the torn pectoral muscle he sustained during the regular season which stop him playing in Manly's finals series.[30]

2020

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Trbojevic started the 2020 NRL season off very well, recording solid performances against both the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters. When the season resumed in round 3, his form continued against the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs scoring two tries and producing three try assists. By round 6, he was leading the Dally M tally before he conceded yet another hamstring injury (grade 2 strain), ruling him out for 13 weeks.[citation needed]

Trbojevic made his injury return in round 19 of the 2020 NRL season against the Gold Coast Titans, where the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles lost 24-42. During that match, he yet again injured himself, injuring his left shoulder in the 52nd minute, which ruled him out of their round 20 clash against the New Zealand Warriors, and the 2020 NRL State of Origin series.[31]

2021

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After suffering an off season hamstring injury,[32] Trbojevic missed the first five rounds of the 2021 NRL season returning to the Manly-Warringah side for round 6 and put in a man of the match performance as Manly defeated the Gold Coast 36-0.[33]

In round 9 of the 2021 NRL season, he played his 100th first grade game and put in a man of the match performance as Manly-Warringah defeated New Zealand Warriors 38-32.[34]

The following week, he scored another two tries in Manly's 50-6 victory over Brisbane.[35]

On 30 May, he was selected for game one of the 2021 State of Origin series in which he was man of the match scoring a hat-trick in New South Wales’ 50-6 victory over Queensland.[36][37]

In round 15, he scored a hat-trick in Manly's 56-24 victory over the Gold Coast.[38] The following week, he scored a second consecutive hat-trick in Manly's 66-0 victory over Canterbury.[39]

He claimed the Wally Lewis Medal after an Origin series.[40]

In round 20, he scored a hat-trick in the battle of the beaches rivalry match against Cronulla with Manly running out 40-22 winners.[41]

In round 22, he was involved in an accidental head knock with teammate Jason Saab, and was subsequently rested the following week as a precaution.[42]

In round 24, he scored a hat-trick in Manly's 36-18 win over Wooden Spooners Canterbury.[43] In the final round of the regular season, Trbojevic scored yet another hat-trick in Manly's 46-18 victory over North Queensland.[44]

In week two of the 2021 Finals Series, he scored two tries in a 42-6 victory over the Sydney Roosters.[45]

Ending the season, he won the Dally M Medal For Player Of The Year, Roy Bull ‘Best and Fairest’ Award and set a new season record number of tries for Manly, scoring 28 in just 18 games.[46][47]

He finished 2021 by winning the Brad Fittler Medal as the best NSW player for the 2021 State of Origin series.[48]

2022

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In round 11 of the 2022 NRL season, Trbojevic was taken from the field during Manly's 22-20 loss against Parramatta. It was later revealed after the match that Trbojevic had dislocated his shoulder and would be out for the rest of the season.[49] In December 2022, Manly announced that Trbojevic was expected to head to United States of America for rehabilitation in 2023. [50]

2023

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In round 3 of the 2023 NRL season, Trbojevic scored two tries in Manly's 34-30 victory over Parramatta.[51] In round 12, Trbojevic scored a hat-trick in Manly's 42-18 upset victory over Canberra.[52] On 22 May, Trbojevic was selected by New South Wales for game one of the 2023 State of Origin series.[53] In round 15, Trbojevic scored two tries for Manly in their 58-18 victory over the Dolphins. Three minutes into origin 2 Trbojevic was taken from the field after getting injured attempting to tackle maroons fullback Reece Walsh it was later announced Trbojevic would miss the remainder of the 2023 season with a pectoral injury.[54]

2024

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During Manly's round 10 loss against the Dolphins in the 2024 NRL season, Trbojevic was taken from the field with a hamstring injury. It was later announced that Trbojevic could potentially be ruled out for 6-8 weeks.[55] In round 20, Trbojevic score two tries for Manly in their 38-8 win over the Gold Coast.[56] In round 25, Trbojevic scored a hat-trick in Manly's 34-26 upset loss to the Wests Tigers.[57] He played 20 matches for Manly in the 2024 NRL season as they finished 7th on the table and qualified for the finals. Manly would be eliminated in the second week of the finals by the Sydney Roosters.[58]

Despite carrying a shoulder injury into the Finals, Trbojevic declared himself available for selection for Australia in the 2024 Pacific Championships. He was subsequently picked by coach Mal Meninga and played all three of Australia's games in the championships in the centres. It was the first time he was selected for Australia since 2017. He scored a 70 metre intercept try in the opening 18–0 win over Tonga at in Brisbane, then ran for over 200 metres against New Zealand in a 22–10 win in Christchurch. In the Final of the Pacific Championships against Tonga at home in Sydney, Trbojevic scored two tries and had two disallowed by the bunker in the three minutes before halftime as Australia wrapped up the series with a 20–14 win.[59]

Statistics

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Manly Warringah

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Season Team Games Tries Assists Points
2015   Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 9 8 0 32
2016 23 10 11 40
2017 23 12 19 48
2018 22 9 14 36
2019 12 5 8 20
2020 7 4 7 16
2021 18 28 28 112
2022 7 2 3 8
2023 11 10 6 40
2024 20 17 17 68
Total 152 105 113 420

New South Wales

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Season Team Games Tries Points
2018   New South Wales 3 2 8
2019 2 3 12
2021 3 4 16
2023 2 0 0
Total 10 9 36

Australia

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Season Team Games Tries Points
2017–2024   Australia 7 6 24

Last updated: 12 November 2024

References

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  1. ^ "Tom Trbojevic - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Distinguished Achievers List - 2014 Higher School Certificate". Retrieved 3 July 2021.
  3. ^ "Tom Trbojevic to Carve Up Holden cup Opener". Dailytelegraph.com.au. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  4. ^ "'Turbo' Tom cruises past Warriors". Sea Eagles. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  5. ^ How Manly Sea Eagles young gun Tom Trbojevic was almost lost to rugby league from Fox Sports July 22nd, 2016
  6. ^ How Tommy Turbo chose rugby league over AFL after training with Swans star from Fox Sports September 16th, 2021
  7. ^ a b Johns, Matthew (7 August 2015). "Jake and Tom Trbojevic are the future of the Manly Sea Eagles". Fox Sports. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  8. ^ Walter, Brad (30 September 2021). "It's Academic: Trbojevic sweeps on- and off-field awards". Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  9. ^ "Jake and Tom Trbojevic are Manly's younger version of the Stewart brothers". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Two From Two for Rabbitohs NYC". Rabbitohs.com.au. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  11. ^ "NYC TEAM LIST v Raiders". Seaeagles.com.au. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  12. ^ "NSW U18s Retain Interstate Crown". Nswrl.com.au. 18 June 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  13. ^ "lock in future of stars". Seaeagles.com.au. 26 September 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  14. ^ "LATE MAIL: Trbojevic to debut". Seaeagles.com.au. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  15. ^ "Sea Eagles v Raiders: Five key points". NRL.com. 4 April 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015.
  16. ^ "re-sign local trio". Seaeagles.com.au. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 30 April 2015.
  17. ^ "Sea Eagles Flyer Tom Trbojevic Pushes First Grade Recall with Four Long Range Tries in Holden Cup". Foxsports.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  18. ^ "Manly shock NRL ladder leaders Brisbane". Archived from the original on 20 December 2015. Retrieved 5 February 2016.
  19. ^ "RLW's CLASS OF 2015". Rugby League Week. 23 August 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  20. ^ "2015 Holden Cup Team of the Year". NRL.com. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  21. ^ "finish runners-up in NYC". Sea Eagles. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 29 November 2015.
  22. ^ "Manly names new look Nines squad". NRL.com. February 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  23. ^ Tom Trbojevic wins Manly's top award
  24. ^ Manly Sea Eagles vs Brisbane Broncos, highlights. NRL Rd.10 2017
  25. ^ Jarryd Hayne expected to return next week but Tom Trbojevic facing season on the sidelines. Played for the Kangaroos
  26. ^ "Slick Manly Sea Eagles pile pain on Canberra Raiders". NRL. 31 March 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  27. ^ "Trbojevic and Addo-Carr lead origin try spree". Sydney Morning Herald. 23 June 2019.
  28. ^ "Tom Trbojevic suffers hamstring injury in Manly's clash with the Rabbitohs". Fox Sports. 6 April 2019.
  29. ^ Johnson, Paul (10 July 2019). "Emotional Blues legend Wayne Pearce opens up on his son Mitchell's battle". News.com.au.
  30. ^ Tom Trbojevic pectoral injury: Manly Sea Eagles star to undergo season-ending surgery - NRL
  31. ^ "Tom Trbojevic to miss out on 2020 State of Origin series due to injury". www.seaeagles.com.au. October 2020.
  32. ^ "Tom Trbojevic rattled by latest hamstring tear". ESPN. 22 February 2021. Retrieved 1 October 2021.
  33. ^ "Parramatta beats Canberra 35-10 as South Sydney, Manly post contrasting NRL wins". ABC News. 17 April 2021.
  34. ^ "St George Illawarra beats Canterbury Bulldogs 32-12, Manly defeats New Zealand Warriors 38-32". ABC News. 9 May 2021.
  35. ^ "Manly thrashes Brisbane 50-6, Wests Tigers beat Newcastle 36-18 as Magic Round gets under way". ABC News. 14 May 2021.
  36. ^ "NSW Origin team: Luai gets nod for Freddie's fresh-faced Blues". www.nrl.com. 30 May 2021.
  37. ^ "NSW Blues win State of Origin series opener 50-6 against Queensland Maroons". ABC News. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
  38. ^ "Manly Sea Eagles thrash Gold Coast Titans 56-24, Parramatta Eels beat Canterbury Bulldogs 36-10". ABC News. 20 June 2021.
  39. ^ "Saab and Turbo hit top gear as Sea Eagles cruise Rout 66". www.nrl.com. 3 July 2021.
  40. ^ "Trbojevic takes out 2021 Wally Lewis Medal". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  41. ^ "Trbojevic in a class of his own as Sea Eagles set sights on Storm". www.nrl.com. 2 August 2021.
  42. ^ "Fifita hospitalised with 'significant' larynx injury, 'trouble breathing': Casualty Ward". www.foxsports.com.au. 16 August 2021.
  43. ^ "'You're kidding': Manly's win over Canterbury soured by staggering bunker call against 'robbed' Bulldogs". wwos.nine.com.au.
  44. ^ "Manly beats North Queensland 46-18 to clinch NRL top-four spot as South Sydney, Brisbane record victories". ABC News. 4 September 2021.
  45. ^ "Manly Sea Eagles hammer Sydney Roosters 42-6 to advance to NRL preliminary finals". ABC News. 17 September 2021.
  46. ^ "Manly's No.1 gun tops Turbo charged season with Dally M". National Rugby League. 27 September 2021. Retrieved 27 September 2021.
  47. ^ "Tom Trbojevic wins Sea Eagles' top award for 2021". seaeagles.com.au. 26 September 2021.
  48. ^ Adrian Proszenko (1 December 2021). "Tom Trbojevic caps stunning season with Brad Fittler Medal". Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 2 December 2021.
  49. ^ "'That's shocking': Sea Eagles, Blues dealt 'killer blow' with Turbo ruled out for the season". www.foxsports.com.au. 21 May 2022.
  50. ^ "Manly set to send Tom Trbojevic to America for rehab — SEN".
  51. ^ "Manly Sea Eagles prevail 34-30 against Parramatta Eels to maintain unbeaten start to NRL season". ABC News. 16 March 2023.
  52. ^ "Tom Trbojevic firms for NSW State of Origin selection with hat-trick in Sea Eagles' 42-14 NRL win over Raiders". www.abc.net.au.
  53. ^ "Graham ruled out for Blues, trio to debut as Fittler makes 'gamble'". www.nrl.com.
  54. ^ "Sea Eagles embarrass Dolphins with 58-18 NRL hiding, Warriors beat Raiders 36-14 to crash Jarrod Croker's party". www.abc.net.au.
  55. ^ "Trbojevic could miss entire Origin series as Manly fear scan results on hamstring — Casualty Ward". www.foxsports.com.au.
  56. ^ "Turbo shines as Manly pour on the points again; tale of two Titans halves - What we learned". www.foxsports.com.au.
  57. ^ "NRL updates: Wests Tigers vs Manly Sea Eagles — blog, scores and stats". www.abc.net.au.
  58. ^ "The Mole's season review: Luke Brooks 'revels' at Manly Sea Eagles but 30 seconds of horror luck ends season". www.nine.com.au.
  59. ^ Australia holds off Tonga to win Pacific title
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