Tom Trbojevic Says no to Hasler

DES Hasler has never been an easy man to say no to, especially when you’ve idolised him from the stands as he delivered your local club multiple premierships.

But somehow Tom Trbojevic found a way to knock back Hasler’s approach late last year to join him at the Bulldogs to chase his NRL dream with the Sea Eagles.

While Trbojevic was humbled by ​Hasler’s offer, the 18-year-old fullback’s deep desire to don the maroon and white in the NRL won out in the end​, and was the reason he re-signed with Manly until the end of 2016.

Now the Mona Vale Raiders junior, dubbed a future Kangaroo by former international Matthew Johns, has his sights firmly set on fulfilling his first grade goals.

“Des contacted me through my agent (Paul Sutton) and there was a bit of interest, but I never really wanted to leave the Manly club,” Trbojevic told The Daily Telegraph.

“I really enjoy it here, it’s close to home and I love the beaches. I was born in Mona Vale, raised in Mona Vale and played juniors for Mona Vale, so that’s where I want to be.

“But it was definitely flattering with the money being offered and the fact it was Des. It did enter my mind to think about going, but I just couldn’t leave Manly.

“I really look up to players like Jamie Lyon, how he carries himself on-and-off the field.

“Also players like Kieran Foran, who is just a great person off the field and on the field he is a competitor.

“That’s something that I want to base my game on.”

Manly may have lost Narrabeen​ boy ​Anthony Watmough to archrivals Parramatta, but in Trbojevic there’s another Northern Beaches local set to star for the famous club.

He dominated his maiden season in the NYC ranks last year, scoring a record 20 tries in just 17 games to earn the club’s under 20s Player of the Year honours.

Trbojevic has stepped up to the senior squad this summer and received the ultimate initiation and education during a chilly hike up Mt Kosciuszko last week.

“I’ve never been so cold, it was ridiculous,” he said with a smile.

“At one stage I tried to talk, but I couldn’t speak. My face was cold and the rain was coming in sideways ... I never want to go up there again.

“But I learnt a lot from the senior players like Willie Mason and Matt Ballin, who were my two team leaders.

“They never stopped talking and they were the motivators who got us through it. There were times when I was thinking, ‘why am I doing this?’, but those senior guys helped me push on.

“We had a briefing at the end and David Williams said, ‘I know it was tough out there, but I knew we’d get through because that’s what our culture is all about’.

“That was definitely inspiring and a big reason why the club is so successful.”

Trbojevic also represented NSW under 18s this season — alongside Newcastle rookie sensation Sione Mata’utia.

He said Mata’utia’s rise to the NRL and Test ranks has motivated him to follow in his footsteps in 2015.

“I got the chance to play alongside Sione for the NSW 18s,” said Trbojevic, whose older brother Jake has played a handful of top grade games at Manly.

“He has obviously worked really hard on his game and he has got to a very high level.

“It’s really evident in the way that he holds himself. He is very humble and a competitor, so that’s something I’d like to aspire towards.

“The coaching staff has told me to keep working hard and that’s what I’ll do.”