Tom Trbojevic might be the most in-form fullback in the NRL, but it won’t be enough to land him the NSW No.1 jersey in the State of Origin opener next month.
The Manly fullback has stunned the competition in recent weeks, with his performance against the Warriors on Sunday one of the best individual games in recent memory.
His two tries, four assists and five line-breaks in a 38-32 win raised the question of whether he had overtaken James Tedesco as the state’s best fullback option.
However, the suggestion was quickly put to rest on Wednesday when Blues coach Brad Fittler confirmed the Sydney Roosters champion was in no danger of losing his spot.
“Teddy will be there, he’s done an incredible job at fullback,” Fittler said.
“Him going down early in the last game (in 2020) hurt our chances, he’s a big part of what we do and he’s been doing it really well at fullback, so we’d be silly to move him out of there.”
With 18 days until squads are announced for the first Origin match in Melbourne on June 9, Fittler is still whittling down his list of selections.
Trbojevic has previously played at wing and centre for the Blues, while fellow eligible fullbacks Ryan Papenhuyzen, Latrell Mitchell and Clint Gutherson will also be considered in the backline.
“The good thing is our fullbacks are some of the best players in the game at the moment and they came through all playing different positions and are comfortable playing different positions,” Fittler said.
Meanwhile, Penrith’s unbeaten combination of Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai is considered the best chance of running out in the halves for the Blues.
However, Fittler hinted he’s not married to the idea of club combinations, leaving the door open for South Sydney star Cody Walker to partner Cleary in the halves again.
“It was more important three years ago because we were starting from scratch,” he said.
“Now some of these players have played a fair bit of pressure football with each other, so combinations in Origin games also counts as well as combinations with their club.
“You try to weigh it up.
“To rule anyone out at the moment with what’s going on with injuries … I’m still very open on combinations.”
The Barry
Roar Guru
Pfffft... second last is sooo 2020... :laughing:
matth
Roar Guru
Hey at least my team is looking good for second last ...
The Barry
Roar Guru
It’s funny, we never saw this from Queensland. “Pick GI at fullback or don’t have him in the team. Don’t play Boyd out of position on the wing” Players have been squeezed into rep teams in different positions since day 1 Turbo gives NSW a great luxury of having played wing and centre - at the highest levels - and succeeded
The Barry
Roar Guru
The two nuffies...
Zak
Roar Rookie
Why not have both Turbo, Teddy and Latrell in the team! Teddy at fullback, Turbo is a fantastic winger and will have more freedom to “pop up” anywhere on the field than at centre and Latrell has proven in the past that he is one of the best centres going around.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
Will that break involve him continuing to play for the Roosters?
Paul
Roar Guru
Teddy's defence at the back is a big part of the reason why the Roosters won 2 premierships. Every top class player will have good or even great games, but what sets Teddy apart is how often he does it, both in attack and defence. Dally M winner as a fullback maybe sums up how good this guy is and more importantly, how consistently good.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Tedesco will be fullback, not because he is the better fullback but because Turbo can play center at world class level. He is the closest player I've seen to GI who could play just about any backline position at the highest level.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I don't know about that...Manly v Roosters 2nd round last year I thought Turbo was the better fullback and especially in defense. Probably one of the best fullback defensive efforts I have ever seen and against an awesome Roosters team that had just won the premiership.
Phil
Roar Rookie
Ben, that's about the most sensible suggestion I've seen put forward about SOO. But.....Freddy being Freddy will pick players out of position once again because their form cannot be denied. He's also making a silly mistake by saying a certain player is in. Remember last year when Tommy was injured, Freddy said in a live TV interview, told him directly, that he was in the team. Well, we all know how that ended up. Freddy is different, liking to walk barefoot through the grass to feel the earth's energy, coming from a different angle at selection time. To me, it's pick the best players in their positions rather than the five fullbacks fitting in there somewhere as has been talked up by some media types.
Big Daddy
Roar Rookie
It's not in Freddy's DNA to pick players in their rightful positions. He said after last year's loss he would pick the right position. That was 2020 Freddy, we need to look at 2021 Freddy . My bet is TT and Mitchell as centre's and Tupou on the wing. That leaves Wighton, Walker and Luai for the no 6. And if Papenhuouzen isn't fit one of the above 3 will be 14. He has surprised us before with his selections so this year won't be any different. Depending on injuries the forwards will be the same as last year. Qld's only problem is wing and centre.
Muzz
Guest
Turbo is on fire and should be the NSW FB. Teddy is playing busted and needs a break. Go Easts.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
I hate the idea of players “owning” spots. It shouldn’t matter how good Tedesco has been in the past - if there’s a fullback playing better footy and with better form, he should be the one named on the team sheet. I’m not crazy about Trbojevic getting named in the side after missing so much football through injury, but if he’s currently the better of the two players (and there’s a strong argument to suggest that he is) then he should be running out in the number 1 jersey. And for God’s sake; please don’t make the same mistake last year and play people out of position just to fit them in. Gutherson is a phenomenal player but he shouldn’t be in the side this year. You throw him in centre like last year (or Wighton, or Papenhuyzen, or Edwards) and he has a bad game playing in a spot he’s not used to. If Gutho can’t make fullback or utility; which it looks pretty certain he won’t, he needs to be overlooked to allow the best centres to take their spots. But what am I saying? It’s Brad Fittler; and based on his selection wisdom last year he’ll probably end up picking Joseph Suaalii.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Before, maybe, but not after a Guiness Book of Record truck load number of tries has waltzed on by him.
eagleJack
Roar Guru
Yep. And I reckon that’ll be Wighton & Tupou
matth
Roar Guru
It’s goodnight from me and it’s goodnight from him
Tony
Roar Guru
I love the Matt & Nat double act
Tony
Roar Guru
Yes
Graham
Guest
Dont think it will matter who matter who nsw pick. Unless injuries ravage them, they have a very strong qld side