Trbojevic’s personal slide from his record-breaking 2021 exploits – when his 28 tries were the most by any Sea Eagle in one season – makes for even more alarming reading until his return from surgery and Manly’s middling form this year is considered.
Where Trbojevic averaged a nigh unheard of 1.5 tries and try-assists per game last season, along with almost seven tackle busts and two line breaks each match, this year he has managed just two tries, assists and line breaks from six games in 2022.
His touches per game are also down slightly from 35 to 33.8, though his running game at the back is still among the NRL’s most prolific as he averages 203 metres compared to 209 last year.
Again, Trbojevic is not exactly comfortable with the intense scrutiny of his form and fitness, but understands it comes with the territory of a near-seven figure salary and billing as one of the game’s biggest stars.
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“I don’t read into having [my] performance analysed so much. I wouldn’t say it affects me but you know it’s there,” Trbojevic said. “It’s part of the game. I played some good footy last year and that’s what comes on the back of it.
“I haven’t been good enough this year and I need to find ways to fix that.
“Last year, I don’t take that into account, but I love the game of rugby league, I pride myself on my ability to play the game each week. You put pressure on yourself to perform for your team. You take that hit and you work through the week to turn that around.
“If you want to be successful you’ve got to beat the top sides. We haven’t been able to do that this year and we’ve got to find a way to be more competitive against those sides and win footy games… Parra at home, that’s a test and we’re going to have to be a lot better than we were at the weekend.”
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