Superstar brothers Jake and Tom Trbojevic are expected to quietly ask the Manly Sea Eagles to release them from the remainder of their NRL contracts following middle brother Tom’s emergency meeting with manager Paul Sutton today.
The Sporting Base has heard younger brother Ben has also been involved in talks.
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While Tom ‘Turbo’ is expected to hit the panic button during his strategy meeting with Sutton, the expectation on the other side is simple: Manly bosses should, if nothing changes between now and when they are handed official documentation, reject the proposal. Whether the Trbojevics and the Sea Eagles find some middle ground for release after that remains to be seen.
The rushed Friday move comes after it emerged from inside the club that the Trbojevics were fearful their boyhood team is “imploding in front of their eyes” after Des Hasler was sacked.
Reports suggest the superstar duo—who would warp the player market around them—think things are becoming “untenable.”
As of Friday, Sutton and his stars have not spoken to other clubs.
Other clubs do have their eyes on the Northern Beaches situation though. The Sporting Base understands, at very least, the Dolphins, Dragons, and Bulldogs are very interested in proceedings.
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There is a big sticking point for the Turbo bros though. Both have been signed through to the 2026 NRL season for a combined $2,000,000 a year, with Tom taking home $1,100,000 of that package. Whether the star duo wants to leave or not, Manly holds the relatively heavy four-year counterweight and could simply force them to stay.
There are talks within Manly, however, that $2,000,000 extra for any incoming coach to play with from 2023 would be a strong boost for what will likely be another rebuilding period.
Jake has also slipped in standing slightly since the start of the six-again era in the NRL, while Tom was barely available for the last top-flight campaign through injury—a status that is not uncommon for the New South Wales and Australia game-breaker.
In 2021, with Tom largely uninjured, Manly finished top four and Tom won the Dally M medal.
If Tom does leave, Reuben Garrick will be plugged in at fullback.
Since debuting in 2013, older brother Jake has played 182 games for Manly and run out in a further seven Australian tests and fifteen Origin battles. Tom joined the top squad two years later and has since played 121 games and scored 78 tries.
On Manly’s side of things, their focus has become locking in Hasler’s successor. All reports suggest former Rabbitohs and Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is the board’s preferred option.
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