Anthony Seibold has revealed Tom Trbojevic’s move to the centres is a week-by-week proposition, with the Sea Eagles coach confirming he won’t stand in the way if his returning superstar is picked for the State of Origin decider.
Trbojevic returns from a grade 2 hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since round 10, with the rep star to be eased back at centre against the Cowboys on Saturday night, although Seibold chose not to reveal which side of the field he’ll play.
The former Dally M Medal winner gets one chance to impress Blues coach Michael Maguire before the teams are announced for the Origin decider, although it’s impossible to see changes unless there’s a suspension or an injury in the outside backs.
If someone does go down, Trbojevic would be an obvious replacement given he’s excelled in the centres before for NSW.
Seibold wouldn’t stand in the way if the Blues picked him, but he doesn’t want his main man to be named on an extended bench given he’s missed so much time with his club side.
“I’ve never stopped a player from playing representative football,” Seibold said in Townsville.
“My thing would be that if they take him into camp that they play him in the 17 and don’t play him as the 18th man because he’s missed so much football.
“The Blues will need to do what they need to do. I’d love to see him in the 17, but the 17 Blues players played outstanding footy in game 2 so I’d expect Madge (NSW coach Michael Maguire) and the Blues guys to choose the same 17.
“Turbo is an elite player, so if he was to get an opportunity then that would be wonderful.”
While Trbojevic has played plenty of rep games at centre, this will be his first time in the role for Manly since 2016 when he played a few games there, most recently against the Cowboys in Townsville.
The decision to move him a little wider eases the pressure on his body, with injuries cruelling him over the years and robbing fans of seeing one of the game’s elite talents.
“It’s about taking some physical and mental load away from Turbo, so it was a pretty easy decision,” Seibold explained.
“He’s played Origin as a centre so he’ll do it really well and we’re really looking forward to having him back as part of the team.
“This is just for this weekend.
“It’s about getting him back on the field. We want to keep Turbo on the field and we want to keep Turbo in the game. By taking a physical and mental load away from him, we feel that’s the right thing to do.
“When we looked at the data objectively, that was the main thing, but it was also a bit of a gut feel.
“The main thing is that we’ve got Turbo back out on the field tomorrow night, and I think for the young people who follow our game, when Turbo’s in the game, it’s a good thing for the NRL and for rugby league.”
Trbojevic isn’t expected to park himself on one side of the field like most centres, which will be a nightmare for the Cowboys who will have to defend a potent backline that includes the speedy Tolu Koula who starred at fullback late last year.
“I think Tolu Koula is a fantastic young player,” his coach said.
“He’s played three games at fullback at NRL level and has been outstanding in all three. We feel as though Tolu gets his opportunity and he brings his strengths.”
