Incumbent Blues skipper Jake Trbojevic says he’d love to lead the side again this year but concedes there are people who didn’t play in last year’s series who are fit again and could take over under new coach Laurie Daley.
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The Sea Eagles workhorse was named captain in 2024 after long-time leader James Tedesco was dropped for the series opener and then returned for game one after Dylan Edwards got hurt but did not skipper the side.
The Blues have no shortage of options with Stephen Crichton and Mitchell Moses leading their club sides, while Mitch Barnett is now a co-captain at the Warriors and Jarome Luai has been named co-captain at the Wests Tigers.
But the big challenge will come from out west where Daley could be tempted to go with Nathan Cleary, who missed last year’s series due to a hamstring tear, with the Panthers halfback doing a wonderful job along with Isaah Yeo as co-captains.
Cleary is set to be one of the first players selected if fit and would be the logical choice given he’ll be in the team until he retires.
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Trbojevic understands that he might not be retained as skipper, with the veteran playing 85 minutes as a starting prop in last year’s series, while he’s also not Manly’s captain.
And while he hasn’t spoken to Daley about it, he won’t be offended if the NSW coach goes in another direction, as long as he keeps his spot in the 17 where he’s become the heart and soul of the state after leading them to a famous win in enemy territory.
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“No indications yet, but there are lots of options there, including some options that weren’t available last year but are back available now,” Trbojevic told the NewsWire.
“I’m probably well aware how lucky I was to be the captain, but if it isn’t to be this year, that’s fine. I just hope I’m in there.
“It’s a huge honour, but I’m very aware the experience I was given (was because) there were certain people who weren’t playing last year who may have been (the captain).
“I don’t know, that’s what I’m thinking. I’d love to do it again, but to be fair, I just want to be in the team.”
Lifting the Origin shield was a career highlight for Trbojevic, who also got married in December, but he’s got other goals on his radar as he chases an elusive title with his beloved Sea Eagles.
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“It was great, it was a really enjoyable year with some major life highlights,” he said.
“But it would be nice as a club here at Manly to keep getting better and better. Getting to the finals was great, but the way we exited was tough.”
The Sea Eagles finished seventh last season and made the second week of the finals, but everyone at the club knows there’s still a big gap between them and top teams like the Storm and Panthers.
Manly beat both of those teams at Fortress Brookvale last year, but they also lost to bottom clubs the Tigers, Eels and Rabbitohs, which shows there’s still room to grow.
“Last year was a step in the right direction, but we’ve got to keep improving on that,” Trbojevic said.
“We were a long way off the top sides. You’ve probably got the two or three top sides who are well clear of the rest of the pack, and the rest of us are fighting for the five or six other positions in the top eight.
“We’re definitely a long way off them, but last year gives us confidence and the hunger to keep improving.”
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