As the clock ticks down on one of the most anticipated career decisions in the NRL this season, Manly Sea Eagles veteran Jake Trbojevic is increasingly certain he will extend his decorated career into 2027, with a recent form resurgence under interim head coach Kieran Foran pushing him toward activating the player option in his existing contract.
The 32-year-old former New South Wales State of Origin skipper, who made his top-flight NRL debut back in 2013, has spent years navigating a string of concussions that sparked widespread speculation about his potential retirement. After a underwhelming start to the 2024 season that mirrored the entire Sea Eagles squad’s slow start, Trbojevic has found new momentum since Foran took over the head coaching role from Des Hasler earlier this month.
In a press statement this week, Trbojevic confirmed he is “definitely” leaning toward playing another season, noting that his recent run of strong on-field performances has made his choice far simpler. He emphasized that any final decision will prioritize the long-term interests of both himself and the club he has represented his entire career, adding he has no intention of becoming a “burden” to the side he has supported and played for over more than a decade.
“It’s been a really enjoyable month. Having Foz (Foran) take over has been a breath of fresh air, and the consistent footy we’ve put together makes life a lot easier,” Trbojevic said. “The last few weeks have definitely made things a lot clearer. I just want to make a good decision for both me and the club. I don’t want to be a burden. We’re obviously always having ongoing conversations, and there’s great respect between both parties, so a final decision won’t be far away.”
His younger brother, injured star fullback Tom Trbojevic, has thrown his full support behind another season for the veteran lock, arguing that criticism of Jake’s early-season form was wildly overblown. The Sea Eagles remain heavily reliant on Jake Trbojevic’s leadership both on and off the pitch, with his veteran presence viewed as a core asset for the club’s developing young core.
“He’s definitely playing some of his best footy right now and really enjoying himself, so I definitely want to see him play on,” Tom Trbojevic said. “I thought everyone copped a bit of criticism at the start of the year, but I don’t think he was playing as badly as everyone was saying. We know what he’s capable of, and it’s great that he’s out there showing everyone that right now.”
As Trbojevic nears his final call, the resurgent Sea Eagles will face their biggest test of the Foran era this Sunday night, when they go head-to-head with the ladder-leading Penrith Panthers. Manly has notched four straight wins since Foran took over as caretaker coach, but the clash with the five-time defending premiers will be the first true measure of how far the side has progressed in recent weeks.
“Any time you play Penrith, it’s going to be a tough challenge,” Jake Trbojevic said. “It’s nice that we come in with good form because it gives you a bit of confidence. But we know it’s going to be a very hard test. Anyone who goes up against Penrith knows they’ve been the best side for the last five or six years. It’s a great challenge for us to see where we’re at. I’m just happy with our progression; we’ve continually gotten better and better. Hopefully, we can just go out and compete with them. I’m not going to talk about an end result, I just hope we can compete for a full 80 minutes.”