Manly Sea eagles table two-year deal to take Kangaroos star Tom Trbojevic and Tongan fullback Lehi Hopoate off market
Manly has tabled Tom Trbojevic a two-year deal in a bid to ensure the Kangaroos star finishes his career as a one-club man.
The Sea Eagles have also offered Trbojevic’s potential fullback successor, Lehi Hopoate, a two-year contract extension. The club is also in active negotiations to retain forward Caleb Navale.
Trbojevic is one of 11 Australian internationals off contract as Kevin Walters’ side prepares to take on Samoa in a World Cup semi-final at Allianz Stadium on Sunday night.
The northern beaches outfit hopes a two-year offer of about $1.75 million will be enough to take Trbojevic off the NRL market.
The last contract Trbojevic signed was for one season. However, Manly hopes the offer of a second year will be enough to end speculation about the fullback’s future. The club say the deal reflects the esteem Manly holds for its captain, while also being fiscally responsible given Trbojevic has played 70 games in five years.
A two-year term will provide both parties with certainty and end the uncertainty over Trbojevic’s future.
Trbojevic has always maintained he wants to finish his career at Manly and at one point attempted to take a pay cut due to the number of games he has missed through injury.
The 30-year-old is tied with New Zealand’s Casey McLean for most tries during the World Cup, but has also had some defensive lapses playing in the unaccustomed wing position.
Trbojevic and fellow Kangaroos Jack Bostock, Bradman Best, Sam Walker, Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Munster, Harry Grant, James Tedesco, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and David Fifita have been free agents since November 1.
Hopoate, meanwhile, is wearing the No.1 jersey as part of Tonga’s World Cup campaign. The 21-year-old is a valued member of the Sea Eagles backline, having played 43 NRL games on the wing, 32 at fullback, five at centre and two off the bench since his first-grade debut in 2024.
Both Hopoate and Toluta’u Koula, who has made a home in the centres, are long-term fullback options once Trbojevic retires. Manly also recently re-signed the promising Large brothers, Ashton and Onitoni, to contract extensions until the end of 2029.
The Sea Eagles aren’t expected to be a big mover on the open market unless they can offload several contracted players. Manly is prepared to honour the deals of Luke Brooks, Jamal Fogarty and Ethan Bullimore, but won’t stand in their way if they can secure a long-term contract elsewhere. Blake Wilson was last week granted an early release to join the Perth Bears.
