NRL 2021: Turbo’s ‘tough’ Dally M task

Manly lock Jake Trbojevic concedes it will be “tough” for his star brother Tom to win this year’s Dally M Medal after missing so many weeks due to injury.

“Turbo” Trbojevic is expected to play against Canterbury on Sunday after sitting out last week’s clash versus Canberra due to a cheekbone injury.

The gun fullback is in the mix to collect the covenanted Dally M as the NRL’s best player alongside the likes of James Tedesco and Cody Walker.

When the Dally M voting went behind closed doors after round 12, Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary was leading the way on 21 points followed by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (17), James Fisher-Harris (16), Trbojevic (15), Latrell Mitchell (13) and Tedesco (12).

Manly star Tom Trbojevic is the mix to win this year’s Dally M Medal. Picture: Getty Images.Source:Supplied

As scintillating as Trbojevic has been this season, his elder brother isn’t so confident that his sibling can overcome extended periods on the sideline to collect the game’s best player award with just two regular season rounds remaining.

“Turbo” also missed the opening five weeks of the season with a hamstring injury.

“He has missed a lot of footy this year, so it will probably be a bit tough for him to win it (the Dally M),” Jake Trbojevic said about Tom, who has scored 19 tries in just 13 games this season.

“It would be nice, but you don’t want to focus on those sorts of things.

“He just wants to go out there and put in a good performance for Manly. That is his goal.

“Those types of rewards don’t motivate or worry you.”

Trbojevic is looking forward to seeing his younger brother return against the Bulldogs on Sunday as the Sea Eagles chase down a top-four berth.

“Yeah, he (Tom) will be fine to play,” he said.

Trbojevic will return from injury against the Bulldogs. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images

“He could have played last week, but they just went on the side of precaution.

“Probably three years ago he had a plate put in there (his cheekbone) and it flared up.

“It got swollen for one day and then it was pretty much normal, so he was fine.

“He wanted to play, and he spoke to Des, but they pulled him and said no because it was a short turnaround from last week. It was only six days, but now we’ve got a longer turnaround, so I’m sure he will be fine.”

Manly centre Brad Parker can’t wait for “Turbo” Trbojevic to return, although he believes the Sea Eagles aren’t a one-man team.

“That is our third win without Turbo, but they still say that we can’t win without him,” Parker said.

“Whatever the media says, the media says.

“He is an unreal player, but I think the boys played well (against Canberra) even though it was a scrappy win.”

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