Manly veteran Jake Trbojevic says his intention is to play on next season, but he insists he wants to make a decision that’s best for him and the club and he doesn’t want to be a “burden” for the team he loves so dearly.
Trbojevic, 32, has an option in his favour to play on in 2027 and says he’s “definitely” leaning towards going around for one more year after a solid month of footy under interim coach Kieran Foran.
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The former NSW skipper made his NRL debut back in 2013 and has dealt with a series of head knocks over the years that left people wondering whether he would continue playing.
Trbojevic had a slow start to the year – as did many of his Manly teammates – but he’s run the ball more under Foran and is likely to activate the deal for 2027.
“It’s been a really enjoyable month. Having Foz (Foran) take over has been a breath of fresh air, and the month of footy we’ve put together makes life a lot easier,” he said.
NO NEWS.COM NO NEWS WIRE NO AUSTRALIAN DAILY TELEGRAPH – 26/3/26 MUST CHECK WITH PIC DESK BEFORE USING Jake Trbojevic during the round 4 NRL match between the Sea Eagles and Rooster at Brookvale Oval. Picture: Jonathan NgSource: News Corp Australia
“The last few weeks have definitely made things a lot easier. 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 a chat, and there’s great respect between both parties, so it won’t be far away.”
Tom Trbojevic says criticism of his brother earlier in the year was over the top, with the injured fullback keen to see Jake go around for one more year.
The veteran lock remains a key member of the Sea Eagles squad, with his influence on the team off the field equally as valuable as what he does on the field.
“He’s definitely playing some of his best footy and really enjoying himself, so definitely (I want to see him play on),” Tom 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 I guess it’s great that he’s showing everyone that.”
Trbojevic brothers heap praise on Foran | 01:11
Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles will find out exactly how far they’ve come under Foran when they face the ladder-leading Panthers on Sunday night.
Manly has won four on the trot under their caretaker coach but this will be their toughest test.
“Any time you play Penrith, it’s going to be a tough challenge,” Jake said.
“It’s nice that we come in with a good bit of 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 good amount of time.”
— Martin Gabor (NCA NewsWire)
Madge on PNG having ‘unfair’ advantage | 08:27
BEARS ANNOUNCE TWO NEW SIGNINGS
All eyes may be on the PNG Chiefs at the moment, but the Perth Bears continue to be making moves in the background with the confirmation of two new signings.
Ahead of their entry into the NRL competition, the club have confirmed Apa Twidle and Kit Laulilii as their next two signings.
Born in New Zealand, Twidle has agreed to a three-year contract until the end of 2029 and recently made his NRL debut for the Parramatta Eels in which he crossed the line for a double.
Meanwhile, Kit joins his younger brother Luke Laulilii at the Western Australia-based side and has agreed to terms on a two-year deal until the end of 2028.
Kit Laulilii.Source: News Corp Australia
“Apa and Kit possess the character and skillset required to make an immediate impact for the Bears next season,” coach Mal Meninga said.
“Apa is a prodigious talent who has excelled across multiple positions in the Eels junior pathways system for a long time now.
“He is highly talented and possesses the work ethic and attitude needed to make an immediate impact in our footy team.
“Kit is coming back from injury but has shown glimpses already that he has what it takes to make a real difference in the NRL competition.
“It takes a lot of courage for Kit, Luke and the Laulilii family to pack up and move to Perth, but I think it speaks volumes for what we are creating in Western Australia.”
Apa Twidle.Source: Getty Images
EX-BLUES PROP FACING EARLY RETIREMENT
Veteran Dolphins frontrower Daniel Saifiti remains no guarantee to play in the NRL again amid fears that he has potentially played his final match due to injury.
Yet to play during this year’s campaign, CODE SPORTS has revealed that Saifiti could be forced into early medical retirement after failing to overcome a serious shoulder problem.
Undergoing surgery on the shoulder at the back end of last year, the former NSW Blues forward was hoping to be ready for this season, but remains sidelined as the shoulder hasn’t been able to recover as well as he had liked.
Playing only eight matches last season, it is understood the 30-year-old has limited movement in the arm and is unable to to do any heavy contact work such as tackling opposing players.
“It’s a real shame as Daniel is a great guy and a fine player,” a Dolphins source told Wide World of Sports.
“He still has a few options and we will help him any way we can – we just have to wait and see.”
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 22: Daniel Saifiti of the Dolphins is tackled during the round three NRL match between the Dolphins and Wests Tigers at Kayo Stadium, on March 22, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
BULLDOGS ICON CALLS FOR HALVES CHANGE
The last halfback to lead the Bulldogs to a grand final says he’d like to see a genuine playmaker brought in to lead the team, with Trent Hodkinson calling on Sean O’Sullivan or youngster Mitchell Woods to be given a shot in the No.7 jersey.
Trent Hodkinson did some terrific things in the blue and white jersey, with the former NSW hero helping them reach the 2014 Grand Final just months after he and halves partner Josh Reynolds ended Queensland’s State of Origin streak.
The pair worked so well together because Hodkinson was the chief playmaker who controlled the game with his kicking which allowed Reynolds to play off the cuff.
The partnership ended after the 2015 season when Hodkinson was squeezed out of the club, with the Bulldogs scoring the fewest points out of any top eight team in 2016 with Reynolds and Moses Mbye in the halves.
Hodkinson has noticed something similar going on this season with Lachlan Galvin and Matt Burton both five-eighths in his eyes, which has seen them lack direction in attack and has led to them scoring the second-fewest points in the league.
Immortal Andrew Johns has called for Galvin to shift to five-eighth, and Hodkinson agrees, calling on the experienced O’Sullivan to play there, while Woods is also an option once he returns from injury.
Montoya dropped for Cowboys clash | 01:26
“It reminded me of 2015 when it was myself, Josh Reynolds and Moses Mbye, and three couldn’t go into two. I got pushed out of the club (but) I truly believe Moses and Josh were two five-eighths,” he said, suggesting Galvin could also play lock.
“(It’s a) similar situation now. I know Lachie’s been playing seven and he played a really good game the other week (against Penrith) but I feel like they’re very similar players.
“Toby Sexton (who left the club last year) was a genuine seven, and you’ve got O’Sullivan there who’s a genuine seven.
“I’m not the coach there and Ciraldo gets paid the big money to make the decisions, but I’d even like to see young ‘Woodsy’. We had him last year in the 19s (Origin team) and he’s a genuine seven.
“I haven’t seen him too much the last 6-8 months with how he’s going physically, but he’d be more than capable to step up.
“With the Dogs at the moment, they’ve just got to find their groove. There might be a little bit of toing and froing at times, but I’m confident Lachie showed that he could do it against Penrith, so he’s just got to be a little bit more consistent in that way and see how they go.
“He can also play lock – he’s a big body as well – so we’ll see how that pans out.”
Bulldogs defiant despite poor form | 02:35
Some people will argue that the six and seven are simply numbers on the back of jerseys, but Hodkinson disagrees.
“I still think they’re unique positions, I really do,” he said.
“You’ve got to have that one dominant half and that guy that steers them around the field. They’re similar at times but I think they’re still separate positions.
“You’ve got a seven, a halfback, and you’ve got a six, a five-eighth. As much as they’re compared to being very similar, they’re still very different in a way.”
Woods turns 20 next month and there are doubts over whether he is ready for the NRL, but Hodkinson – who was part of the NSW under-19s Origin coaching staff – says the only way you can find out is by picking him.
“You probably don’t know until you give them a crack and get out there and then they’ve just got to figure it out themselves,” he said of young playmakers.
“I’m sure there’s plenty of eyes at the Dogs or at multiple clubs that know when these young fellas are ready to make the step. It’s exciting, there are some really good, talented young halves coming through and I’m excited to see how they all go.”
— Martin Gabor (NCA NewsWire)
Mitchell Woods Picture: Warren Gannon Photography. NSWRL Junior Reps grand final, SG Ball Cup. St George Dragons vs Canterbury Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium, 27 April 2024.Source: News Corp Australia
NRL SHUT DOWN UNIQUE FALCON TACTIC
The Sea Eagles literally used their heads to come up with a shock new tactic on the weekend, but the NRL has come out and said that Jason Saab will be penalised the next time he deliberately “Falcons” the ball forward.
What looked to be a regulation kick from halfback Jamal Fogarty had the heaving hill at 4 Pines Park in raptures when the towering winger headed the ball forward instead of catching it or batting it back to a teammate.
The first-half incident may have seemed random, but it was the brainchild of assistant coach Jim Dymock who noticed rival teams had been waiting for Saab to catch kicks before they tackled him.
So to break things up, Saab used his 199cm frame to head the ball forward to gain Manly an extra 15m midway through the first half.
Unfortunately for Manly, it’s a tactic it they won’t be able to employ going forward after an NRL spokesperson confirmed to NewsWire that “it is illegal to head the ball forward” and Saab should have been penalised.
Trbojevic brothers heap praise on Foran | 01:11
The Saab Falcon needs to be tinkered with to get to the same heights as the Ford model, but the club shouldn’t park it completely if it can find a way to make it look like an accident.
“That part is actually down to Jim Dymock,” Saab said after the game.
“I said during the week that when we put those kicks up, the other team lets me catch them and then they tackle me, so I decided I’d try something different by heading the ball forward.
“We didn’t score off it, but it was exciting for the fans. It worked out better than me catching it.
“I don’t have a football background at all, but you’ve got to think outside the box.”
Foz heaps praise on Haumole Olakau’atu | 09:14
Teammate Haumole Olakau’atu knew the play was on but forgot to chase it through for a potential try.
“It’s a funny story,” he said.
“He told me during the week that a lot of teams wait for him to catch the ball, so he told me that he was actually going to header it.
“When that moment happened, I kind of giggled.
“But he helped us in a way because we went from instead of him catching it at the 20 (metre line) we tackled Parra five metres out from their try line, so it was a smart play and the crowd loved it.”
Interim coach Kieran Foran laughed when asked about it at his post-match press conference, with the ploy potentially part of the secret herbs and spices that make up FozBall.
“I know a few of the coaches quite liked it up in the box. It was a bit different,” he said.
“I think Jim Dymock has been putting it to ‘Saaby’ to try that. He’s very good like that, Jimmy, so he’s been challenging the boys to come up with a couple of plays like that. He was very happy in the box.”
— Martin Gabor (NCA NewsWire)
Jason Saab uses his head to promote the footySource: Supplied
SOUTH SYDNEY GREAT SET FOR NEW SUPER LEAGUE DEAL
2014 NRL Premiership winner Sam Burgess is set to be rewarded for Warrington’s good form to begin the English Super League, with their club chief executive confirming their interest in extending Burgess as coach.
The Wolves have won nine and lost just two of their games in 2026 across both the Super League and the Challenge cup, after losing their last five games of last season.
Warrington have a 62 percent win rate across 76 games under Burgess since 2024, with the 37-year-old off contract at the end of this season.
ST HELENS, ENGLAND – MAY 11: Sam Burgess, Head Coach of Warrington Wolves, celebrates towards the fans following victory in the Betfred Challenge Cup Semi Final match between Warrington Wolves and Leigh Leopards at Totally Wicked Stadium on May 11, 2025 in St Helens, England. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
However it’s a situation which club CEO Karl Fitzpatrick says shouldn’t concern anyone, confirming all sides are keen to continue on together.
“We’ve had some preliminary discussions already,“ Fitzpatrick told the media.
“Sam’s keen to stay. We’ll just have to watch this space with that one.”
With the NRL coaching arena already claiming two coaches in Anthony Siebold and Shane Flanagan so far in 2026, it looks like Burgess will not be tempted to join the league’s coaching ranks just yet.
Many have touted the former Rabbitoh to be a long-term NRL coach with a return to the red and green not out of the question, while two extra teams over the next few years only adds to the opportunities on offer.
It comes after Burgess formerly was an assistant at Souths, before infamously being removed by Jason Demetriou after a coming together over training standards.