Aussie rugby league star pays tribute to Diogo Jota after the Liverpool forward tragically passed away
Tom Trbojevic has paid a touching tribute to Diogo Jota, after the Portuguese forward tragically passed away alongside his brother Andre Silva on Thursday last week in a car accident.
Jota, 28, and his brother, Andre, 25, were laid to rest in Portugal on Saturday afternoon, with many of the Portuguese international’s team-mates from past and present attending the memorial service.
Many had gathered at the Igreja Matriz in Gondomar to pay tribute to the brothers, including Jota’s Liverpool team-mates Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson and Alexis MacAllister.
Tributes have continued to flood in from around the world, with several Aussie sporting stars paying homage to the Portuguese defender over the weekend.
Carlton star Jesse Motlop booted a goal during the Blues’ 56-point loss by Collingwood on Friday night and proceeded to pay homage to Jota by sitting on the ground and doing the forward’s video game celebration.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, Trbojevic showed signs of returning back to his best, as he fired the Sea Eagles back into the NRL’s top eight with a 30-12 win over South Sydney.
Tom Trbojevic (centre) has paid tribute to Liverpool forward Diogo Jota after the Portugal star and his brother died on Thursday
Jota (pictured) and his brother Andre Silva died in a car accident in the early hours of Thursday morning
Trbojevic (pictured) also placed his palms together and looked to the sky in tribute to the late football player and his brother
Two games into his shift from fullback to centre, Trbojevic scored a double at Brookvale Oval on Sunday and set up another as Manly ran to a 24-0 lead.
After touching down for his first, Trbojevic got to his feet and looked down one of Fox Sports’ cameras, making a two and zero sign with his hands to spell the number 20, Jota’s Liverpool squad number.
The footy star then placed his palms together to replicate a ‘prayer’ sign and looked up to the sky.
He was later praised by fans on social media for the move, with one writing: ‘Tom #Trbojevic a legend of our NRL game this afternoon paying tribute to Diogo Jota. Well done Turbo for doing that, much respect from this Manly Fan.’
As part of their tributes to the footballer, Liverpool have said Jota’s No 20 shirt will now be ‘immortalised’ following his passing.
‘The No 20 will be rightly immortalised for his contributions as part of Liverpool’s 2024-25 title-winners – the club’s 20th – with his trademark shimmy and strike in front of the Kop to seal victory in April’s Merseyside derby a poignant last goal of his life,’ the club said in a statement.
It comes as Nashville SC midfielder Hany Mukhtar also paid a touching tribute to Jota after he scored a 101st-minute winner against Philadelphia Union on Saturday.
After the incredible moment, the 30-year-old sat down on the turf and mimicked Jota’s gaming celebration.
Jesse Motlop (pictured) of Carlton also paid tribute to Jota after kicking a goal during their defeat this weekend by Collingwood on Friday
Jota (bottom left) was known for his ‘gaming’ celebration, where he would sit on the floor and pretend to press his fingers on an video game controller
It comes as his Liverpool team-mates paid tribute to Jota and his brother Andre Silva during a memorial service on Saturday (pictured, Virgil van Dijk, left, and Andrew Robertson, right)
Manly, meanwhile, claimed their second-straight victory against the Rabbitohs on Sunday in what’s been a crucial fortnight for Anthony Seibold, with the Bunnies now stretching their losing streak to six defeats on the bounce.
The main concern for South Sydney will be Brandon Smith after he limped from the field with ankle injury late in his return game from a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL).
Playing his first game in nine months and featuring for Souths for the first time, Smith started and played two short stints before being hurt in a tackle.
Smith’s injury came on the same leg he ruptured his ACL last August, and adds to what has been a wretched few years of injuries for the Rabbitohs.
As undermanned as the Rabbitohs may be, this was still a crucial win for Manly given the noise around Sydney’s northern beaches a fortnight ago.
Seibold said last week that he would reconsider Trbojevic’s centre move after the Souths match, wanting his most dangerous man to get his confidence back.
Trbojevic appears to have at least done that, running with power again in what was easily his best match since March.
He regularly played a roaming role in attack, popping up on the left of the field to give Manly an extra number on that side of the field in attack.
Trbojevic (right) played a roaming role in attack, popping up on the left of the field to give Manly an extra number on that side of the field in attack
The result means the Sea Eagles have won both of their last two NRL matches
The Sea Eagles’ first try came in that fashion, with Trbojevic linking up with new No.1 Lehi Hopoate on the left side of the field to send Reuben Garrick over.
Trbojevic scored Manly’s next himself when he again went in field searching for the ball, and created pressure by chasing through on a Daly Cherry-Evans kick.
On the next play he made use of the broken defensive line and stepped through two to score.
It was Trbojevic’s second try after the break that showed the most promise, when he again took a ball on the left, charged infield and beat three to score.
Trbojevic has starred as a roaming centre at representative level, but questions linger over defensive cohesion with two Souths tries coming late down his edge.
The Sea Eagles have the bye next week before a difficult month against three of the NRL’s top four, and they desperately need Trbojevic firing if they are to play finals.
Manly hope to have Haumole Olakau’atu back as soon as after that bye, after a middle led by Matt Lodge able to overturn Souths’ better early ball on Sunday.
Garrick also scored a double in the win, while fellow winger Jason Saab appeared to suffer a lower-leg injury late.
