Andrew Johns is a fan of Tom Trbojevic going to play rugby league in England, saying more NRL players should consider doing so, if even for a short time during the year.
Nine’s Danny Weidler broke the news on Thursday that Manly’s $1.3 million fullback has begun exploring his options to quit the Sea Eagles and head overseas.
Trbojevic is contracted until the end of next season but is yet to commit beyond that, and there are growing murmurs that he is disgruntled with the club.
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Given the 28-year-old has little desire to play against Manly in the NRL, a move to Europe’s Super League is the logical option.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports’ Immortal Behaviour, Johns revealed his former club Newcastle recently enquired about Trbojevic’s availability come November 1, when the next contract cycle begins.
Tom Trbojevic of the Sea Eagles. Getty
But he says Trbojevic could go to England and be the best player in the competition by some margin.
“He’s been very loud about he would never play for anyone (in the NRL) other than Manly,” Johns said.
“I think it would suit Turbo down to the ground. (If he was) fully fit, no one would touch him in Super League.
“I know there’s clubs have been asking me about him – do the math, the one I played for – but fully fit Turbo would just own it, and (it would be) huge for the Super League.
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“They need more stars going over there.”
Johns played for Warrington briefly in 2005 after winning three Dally M medals and two premierships in the NRL.
The state of the Super League has deteriorated as the sport struggles for public interest and broadcast revenue in England due to competition from football and rugby.
Johns believes the competition could be boosted by more star power, and says pathways should be created to allow NRL players to spend brief periods in England.
“If they could put their competition back a month… send Mitchell Moses over, who else isn’t playing in the semis? Bradman Best, send him over for a month to play,” he said.
“Send the stars over there to attract publicity, attract crowds, gets eyes on TV.
“That used to be huge back in the day – they won’t go back to playing in (England’s) winter – but guys used to go and play a whole off-season over there, the Aussie boys, go over there for three or four months.
“They need to get more stars there and Turbo would be huge.”
Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary has previously also been linked to a possible Super League move.
Cleary’s partner Mary Fowler plays football for Manchester City and it’s been rumoured he might ditch the NRL to move to England in the coming years.