THE YEAR THAT WAS | Tom Trbojevic
Tom Trbojevic proved to be the x-factor for Sea Eagles in his 12 appearances for them this season, after the side recorded ten wins in those 12 games.
Trbojevic also had 58 tackle breaks, 11 line breaks, eight try assists and ran for 2130 metres.
He played a pivotal role in Origin II, putting on a masterclass performance that included three tries on his return to the NSW Brydens Lawyers Blues side.
Much to his disappointment, he played no part in the Kangaroos 9’s or Test campaigns after battling through a hamstring and pectoral injury but will be looking to be back and better than ever in 2020.
He will also be committed to Manly like never before, since he is set to sign a $13 million-dollar deal with his brother Jake to stay on the Northern Beaches for the next six years.
2019 Season Highlight
Round 18 v Parramatta Eels - 36-24 W
One of Turbo’s best individual moments playing for Manly this year was in Round 18 against their old rivals Parramatta on a perfectly sunny, Sunday afternoon in July.
The scores were locked up at 12-all in the first half and Daly-Cherry Evans put up a spiralling kick towards the Eels’ line.
Trbojevic chased hard.
He jumped up and beat everyone to the ball, slamming it down for the try and celebrating in front of a bumper crowd at the Southern end of Lottoland.
Representative Highlight
State of Origin Game II – 38-6 W
It was 0-0 at Perth Stadium.
Less than eight minutes into the first half, James Maloney puts up a huge bomb 30 metres out from Queensland’s line.
Tom Trbojevic is after it and so is Kalyn Ponga.
Ponga is underneath the ball but Turbo comes steaming through and leaps higher than his opponent, catches the ball in mid-air and plants it down in the in-goal area, directly in front of a sea of ecstatic Blatchys Blues fans.
Off-Field Highlights
Male Athlete of the Year
Trbojevic picked up the Male Athlete of the Year Award as well as the Chancellors Award at Macquarie University, where he is completing a Bachelor of Applied Finance with the degree of Bachelor of Economics.
The Manly trend of winning the Chancellor’s Award follows Jason King’s achievement in 2014 and Male Athlete (2012).