TOM Trbojevic’s scintillating form with Manly’s Holden Cup side this season has seen him named in NSW’s under-18s squad.
The Baby Blues take on Queensland in the State of Origin II curtain-ra
iser next Wednesday night at ANZ Stadium and the Pittwater High student can’t wait to prove himself.
“I was happy to get the call-up, it is a massive accolade,’’ the 17-year-old said.
“The atmosphere will be great, hopefully we can get the right result.”
Trbojevic will play in the centres next week and will echo the achievement of his older brother Jake, who was in the same Blues junior representative team back in 2011 as an interchange prop.
“I played centres in the SG Ball last year, so it is not an unfamiliar position for me,’’ he said.
“To be honest I am happy to play anywhere, I am confident I can do the job.
“Jake was over the moon for me after I told him I got picked, having both of us in this team at different stages is something the family is proud of.”
Mark Dailhou, who has taught at Pittwater High School for 20 years, yesterday labelled Trbojevic the standout high school athlete he has seen come through the gates.
“He is outstanding, and could have chosen a path in many different sports,’’ he said.
“Tom excelled from a young age in rugby union, surf life saving and aussie rules, but what most people don’t know is that he also showed outstanding potential in basketball and volleyball, he really is a natural athlete.
“We tested him in a mock game against some volleyballers and he blitzed them, his athletic talents never cease to amaze.”
At the recent NSW schoolboy rugby league championships in Newcastle, Trbojevic was named player of the tournament after standing out for NSW Combined High Schools.
He is off contract from the Sea Eagles at the end of 2015 but has stated his desire to stay in maroon and white long term.
Andrew Prentice
Manly Daily
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/sea-eagles-young-gun-picked-for-nsw-under18s/story-fngr8iii-1226949651411
