Phil Gould doesn’t believe Manly should panic into re-signing Tom Trbojevic beyond his current deal, despite continued reports surrounding the star fullback’s future.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the 28-year-old is in the sights of Super League club Warrington after negotiations with the Sea Eagles stalled last week.
The report also indicated that Trbojevic was unhappy with how things were panning out in talks with Manly after their initial verbal agreement for an extension changed.
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Trbojevic has been at the club since a young age, growing up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches and playing 170 first grade games for the Sea Eagles despite a horror run with injury.
Tom Trbojevic Getty
With the November 1 date rolling around quickly and no contract signed at this stage, the speculation regarding Trbojevic’s long-term future will only continue.
However, according to Gould, it would be in the best interests of both parties to cool their jets for the time being. He urged Manly not to rush into any fresh deal.
“They will work it out,” Gould said on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles With Gus.
“I don’t know what talks have taken place. He’s still on contract for 2026 and 2027 is a long way away. Why are they even worrying about extending his contract?
“Why has everyone got to do everything 15 or 18 months in advance? Why is this November 1 thing scare everybody? It doesn’t scare me, I don’t worry about it.
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“If there’s been some discussions around an extension and some disagreements on what he may or may not be worth – how would you put a figure on what Tom Trbojevic is worth now for 2027? Given what he’s been through, that has got to be difficult.
“It’s a big investment if he is 100 per cent right, but will he be 100 per cent right by then?
“I have no worries about this November 1 stuff. I know that players like their security, but I don’t think Tom is like that. I don’t know who has instigated the conversations, but I doubt that Tom would be too worried about 2027 with Manly at the moment
“Unless I hear it come out of Tom’s voice with his face, I don’t know what the truth is, so it’s difficult to comment. Just let it breathe and let him get through the off-season.”Â
Trbojevic is one of Manly’s all-time greats but as seen this year with Daly Cherry-Evans, the club’s slow movement at the negotiating table could come back to bite them.
Daly Cherry-Evans Getty
Gould doesn’t believe, however, that Trbojevic should contemplate a move overseas and is adamant there would be plenty of NRL suitors if things go pear-shaped at Manly.
“I don’t think he is one that’s gonna sail off into the sunset and I certainly don’t think he should be contemplating the reports I’ve heard that he’s gonna go to the Super League – how ridiculous,” the Bulldogs general manager said.
“Tom Trbojevic will have no shortage of suitors if he ever decides he wants to leave Manly … but I don’t think Tom Trbojevic wants to contemplate leaving Manly.Â
“I don’t think he will ever wave goodbye to Manly, but I don’t know where he will play in the future. I think forever, Tom Trbojevic will be a Manly boy, whether or not he plays with another club or he plays overseas in the remaining years.
“We don’t know how long his career will last, he’s certainly got some work to do on his body to regain confidence.”Â