Manly’s attempt to lock down Tom Trbojevic’s future has hit turbulence, with his agent admitting negotiations “went a bit pear-shaped” after a miscommunication over contract terms.
The Sea Eagles had been hopeful of securing a three-year deal worth around $2.5 million, but confusion over the inclusion of a ratchet clause derailed talks as November 1, the date rival clubs can open discussions, looms.
Trbojevic, a Manly junior who has repeatedly said he could never imagine playing against the Sea Eagles, remains contracted until the end of 2027. Yet with English Super League side Warrington Wolves reportedly tabling a two-year offer beginning in 2027, speculation about his long-term future is intensifying.
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‘Just a negotiation’
Despite the hiccup, agent Paul Sutton has sought to downplay fears of a split. “We just got off the phone in the break to Tom Trbojevic’s agent (Sutton), and he said, it's just a negotiation. That's what it is,” Mat Rogers revealed on SEN 1170 Sportsday.
“He goes, we thought we had a deal done, didn't quite work out. It went a bit pear-shaped; we’ve just got to renegotiate the deal. He's confident that the deal will get done and Tommy (Trbojevic) will be at the Manly Sea Eagles. He doesn't want to go anywhere else.”
Club officials are believed to have revised their offer to around $300,000 less across three years, with the new deal containing the ratchet clause originally thought to be part of the first proposal.
While injury has limited Trbojevic’s time on the field in recent seasons, his impact when fit is undeniable. As former NRL star Scott Sattler noted, “He’s everything good about Manly… There’s got to be a happy medium, and I think they’ll get to it.”