What’s a fair price for Manly to pay for Tom and Jake Trbojevic?

About this time last year, Tom Trbojevic attempted to take a pay cut.

It was his way of assuaging the guilt he felt about the amount of football he’s missed through injury, although the NRL’s salary cap auditor had other ideas.

“Obviously, that just comes from, I don’t want to let people down,” Trbojevic said on Wednesday about his attempted $750,000 salary sacrifice.

“It’s kind of what I value, and I know I’m paid very well and haven’t played enough footy to justify what I’ve been paid.

“So that’s where that came from. But, yeah, look, I’ll sit down at the end of the year and work all that out. I’m not really too focused on it right now.”

Trbojevic is about to be given an opportunity to leave money on the table. The fullback and his brother Jake are in delicate contract extension negotiations that have the potential to create more turmoil at Brookvale if both parties don’t enter them in good faith.

“I understand I’m not going to be paid the same amount that I’m worth now,” Trbojevic conceded when asked about his next deal.

But how much exactly are Tom and Jake Trbojevic worth? What is a fair price that reflects their current standing in the game, the amount of football they have missed, without offending two of the greatest club men in history?

These are the questions the Sea Eagles hierarchy is currently grappling with.

What’s evident is that both will be taking a significant haircut. Next season marks the final year of a heavily back-ended contract in which the siblings will be taking home $2.35 million between them. It is an extraordinary amount given their output in recent seasons. To Tom’s credit, he acknowledges as much.

‘I haven’t played enough footy to justify what I’ve been paid.’

Tom Trbojevic

“Tommy Turbo” has played just 54 games since his breakout Dally M season in 2021, one of the hottest of hot streaks the NRL has ever seen.

For very different reasons, Jake’s stocks have also slumped. Last year, “Jurbo” was the victorious NSW State of Origin skipper, showing he brings as much off the field as on it. However, the 31-year-old forward has suffered three concussions in short succession, raising questions about whether he will see out his current contract, let alone a new one.

“I’m not entirely sure where he’s at,” Tom said about the prospect of Jake playing beyond 2026.

“He’s definitely got next year. I think he’ll go another year, but I don’t want to say anything [out of school], you know what I mean?

“... It’s unfortunate, and sometimes that happens in footy, but he’ll be excited to put on the footy boots, maybe the headgear next year, and get back out there.”

This is where it becomes tricky for the Sea Eagles. Already battling the public relations disaster that has been Daly Cherry-Evans’ decision to leave, they can’t afford to lose two other favourite sons in the current political environment.

That DCE bushfire has been raging throughout what has been a disappointing season, even if they manage to salvage it somewhat by squeaking into the finals with two late wins. And then there’s the usual scuttlebutt that is de rigueur on the northern beaches; rumours about the coach (he’s safe), the chief executive (safe) and whether the senior players are on board with the direction of the club.

“I just look at footy,” Trbojevic said. “I want to win footy games and want to be playing finals footy.

“I haven’t won a comp – that’s what I want to do. At the moment, we are not getting into a position to do that. I’m not singling people out because I’m included. I haven’t played the best footy this year.

“But I’m certainly not going out and talking to people and saying I’m not happy with the direction of the club.”

Even with Cherry-Evans departing, the Manly salary cap is at capacity next year. The pack is light on middle forwards, but the money invested in that Trbojevic duo leaves them with little scope to alter their roster.

Investing too heavily in either again will prevent the brothers from achieving their ultimate goal, winning a premiership with Manly.

So what’s a fair price?

For the time being, talks about extending Jake’s contract have been put on hold while he recovers from his latest concussion. It is a sensible outcome.

As for what Tom is worth? Next season he is on $1.3 million. It’s a price several clubs would willingly pay, although he would be prepared to stay for a sum below seven figures per season if he thought the savings would go towards a premiership-winning roster. Currently, that’s a big ‘if’.

Asked what could be done to ensure the Sea Eagles were a genuine contender, Trbojevic said: “I don’t know. It’s above my pay grade.”

How far above remains to be seen.

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