- Seibold criticizes claims club encouraged Trbojevic to take salary sacrifice
- Fullback approached the club about a salary cut due to his injuries
- Coach disappointed that club’s integrity was questioned
Sea Eagles manager Anthony Seibold has responded to claims the club have encouraged superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic to forgo a large portion of his salary over the next two seasons to pay for games he has missed due to injury.
Earlier this week it was revealed that Trbojevic had offered to essentially give back $750,000 over the next two years after missing so much football due to injuries, so his teammates were not surprised when they heard that the local junior wanted to help the club.
“I spoke to Seibs (Seibold) about it and we had a conversation with the management team here. We explored a few options but it wasn’t meant to be,” Trbojevic said on Tuesday.
But what was supposed to be a goodwill gesture is now being questioned by those convinced it was the club’s idea so Manly could free up money to spend on other players.
The NRL immediately blocked the move and Seibold is angry that the story has come out, with people questioning the motives of one of the game’s biggest stars, who is back to his best after suffering another hamstring injury earlier this year.
“It is very disappointing to hear that some people are questioning the integrity of ‘Turbo’ or the integrity of the club,” he said.
‘Turbo came to me and said he wanted to take a pay cut because he felt he had missed a lot of football.
Anthony Seibold (pictured) said it was disappointing to hear people questioning the integrity of ‘Turbo’ or the integrity of the Manly club
Tom Trbojevic (pictured) saw his unique idea for a $750,000 pay cut rejected by the NRL
“It was a very difficult conversation for him to go to the coach and say that. That’s all buried, the NRL have said he can’t do that.
“I think it says a lot about his character (that he makes the offer).
‘I was quite disappointed that this was expressed in the media. I think these kinds of things should be played out in private.
‘I think the integrity of people who question whether it was the club that had the conversation with Turbo is simply not right.’
The former Dally M Medal winner will play his 150th NRL game against the Bulldogs on Friday. Trbojevic has been back to his best with nine goals and 10 assists in his six games at fullback since returning from his latest injury.
The injury ruled him out of the State of Origin series, with some questioning whether he should move to centre and whether he would ever be at his best again after all those interruptions.
Seibold said Trbojevic’s gesture says a lot about his character
“When I first met him in 2016, when I was here as an assistant coach that year, I saw that he had a lot of talent,” Seibold said.
‘But I thought he would go this far in the game because he’s a hard worker and works hard as a professional.
‘It’s probably not uncommon for all players to have doubts from time to time, whether that’s due to poor form, injury or other challenges.
‘Turbo is not immune to that, but I never doubted that he would come back and be at his best.’