NRL great Paul Gallen has called for Tom Trbojevic to make the permanent move to centre after his latest hamstring injury puts his season in doubt. Trbojevic left the field with his head in his hands in Manly’s tough loss to the Titans on the weekend.
The Manly Sea Eagles fullback had only recently returned from a hamstring injury on his left leg after missing up to seven games, but this time left the field clutching at his right. Initial reports suggested Trbojevic could be out for around four to six weeks.
Paul Gallen (pictured middle) feels Tom Trbojevic (pictured right) needs to make the permanent move to centre after his latest hamstring injury. (Images: Getty Images)
This would mean he would miss most of the remainder of the regular season for Trbojevic. Although this is Trbojevic’s ninth hamstring injury, according to ‘NRL Physio’ Brien Seeney, and the Sea Eagles might not want to push the fullback’s return.
Sharks and NSW Blues great Gallen feels his latest injury means it is time to move Trbojevic from fullback on a permanent basis. Former coach Anthony Seibold moved Trbojevic to centre last year following an injury in a bid to take some of the workload off the club captain.
The experiment lasted a few games before Trbojevic was moved back to fullback. And Gallen feels the club need to shift Trbojevic again so he is doing less running throughout the season.
“I think he’s at a stage where he’s got to take a real look at his career and where he’s going to be when he comes back,” he said on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy. “Where he was in 2021 when he won the Dally M compared to where he’s been since then, it’s chalk and cheese.
“I personally think he’s going to have to move to the centres. “For his career and going forward for him to play as much football as he can, he’s going to have to reduce the amount of kilometres he runs and for me that’s from moving out of fullback.”
There are calls for Tom Trbojevic (pictured) to make the move to centre. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Greg Alexander dismisses retirement calls
When Penrith legend Greg Alexander was asked about whether it was time for Trbojevic to consider retirement after his latest injury setback, the Penrith legend shut it down.
“Not yet,” Greg Alexander said on SEN Radio. “Frustrating…absolutely,” he added. Manly could use the bye coming up in Round 22 to see where Trbojevic is at before making a call on his return.
The Sea Eagles are on the precipice of the Top 8 in 2026, but their latest form slump could see them fall behind the pack. They face an in-form Sharks side this weekend with a win vital for their finals push.