The Manly fullback is turning heads in pre-season training.
Manly fans are starting to get excited for Tom Trbojevic regarding his physical condition ahead of the 2025 NRL season after it was noted the fullback is in top shape during pre-season training. To end the 2024 season, Trbojevic appeared to be carrying a shoulder injury with the Sea Eagles eliminated in the NRL finals to the Roosters.
Although the 28-year-old put this behind him and enjoyed one of his best post-season runs in rugby league having been one of the stars for the Kangaroos playing at centre. Trbojevic has endured a run of brutal injuries in recent years, which have all hampered his representative career and his pre-season conditioning.
And off the back of serious hype surrounding Latrell Mitchell’s return to peak fitness at the Rabbitohs in pre-season, Manly fans are starting to get excited about Trbojevic’s form. SEN Radio host Julian King was informed about Trbojevic’s apparent condition on Tuesday after talking about Mitchell.
And King pointed out a number of players who have often struggled with injury or early form are raring to go in 2025, which makes the competition that much more exciting. “It is nice though, endless possibility at the start of every NRL season,” King said. And Manly fans will be buoyed with Trbojevic’s condition and form for the Kangaroos as they head into the new season. When fit last year, Trbojevic was one of the most destructive fullbacks in the game.
The 28-year-old scored 17 ties in 20 games with 17 try assists. However, he missed out on State of Origin selection due to an injury to his hamstring.
He returned after eight rounds and was in sensational form with Manly fans hoping a fully fit Trbojevic can provide a boost to their talented backline as Manly look to surge up the ladder in 2025. This comes as question marks remain around Daly Cherry-Evans and his representative career.
Daly Cherry-Evans dilemma leaves Manly in limbo
Speaking on SEN Radio at the end of last year, reporter Michael Carayannis was full of praise for Manly’s squad heading into the 2025 season. “They have players that are about to hit their peak. Such a complete squad. In terms of roster builds, they are locked in…” Carayannis said.
However, there are question marks surrounding their veteran halfback. Cherry-Evans reportedly put a hold on contract talks with the club as he waits to see how his 2025 season turns out. Cherry-Evans is 35 and still playing quality footy, but it remains to be seen if he will play again for Billy Slater and Queensland in this year’s State of Origin.
But fellow SEN Radio host Jimmy Smith questioned the long-term position of the halfback role with Cherry-Evans facing a big call. “Daly Cherry-Evans not playing State of Origin? The one part of that roster you look at is and go ‘your halfback is 35,'” Smith questioned.
And Carayannis agreed if Cherry-Evans opts out of Origin it would help the veteran not having to play 20-plus games in a season. “That would be huge…but he hasn’t looked like a 35-year-old. He is still elite. He is still in the top four halves in the game,” Carayannis added. There were talks Trbojevic could step into the halves in 2026 if Cherry-Evans retires, but if the fullback excels in 2025 it will be hard to see him shifting from fullback.
Latrell Mitchell looking fit ahead of NRL return
One player that is garnering plenty of plaudits in the off-season is Mitchell. The 26-year-old fullbacl reportedly dropped 5kg before he even returned for pre-season training towards the back-end of last year and an image of the fullback in Souths camp this week shows Latrell looking arguably the fittest he’s ever been.
This is a huge boost for the Rabbitohs having missed out on the top eight for the second year in a row in 2024. And the Rabbitohs will be looking to make a title run if Mitchell is able to remain on the the park and playing his best footy for the majority of the season.
Mitchell will be keen to put a horror last season behind him after suffering a foot injury that ended his campaign early and copping a $20,000 fine and one-game suspension over a white powder photo controversy that rocked the club. The fullback was apparently read the riot act by Bunnies officials but looks to be doing everything right to ensure he hits the ground running for his NRL return in round two against the Dragons.
