Jake Trbojevic makes call on NSW captaincy after backlash over role in State of Origin series

Blues captain Jake Trbojevic has admitted he does not feel like he is a certainty to return as captain next year during State of Origin after winning the True Blue award. The Manly leader received a special honour during the New South Wales awards night this week having taken home the True Blue award, presented to the player upholding the values of the jersey throughout the series.

The award comes after Trbojevic received plenty of backlash for his involvement during the series. Blues coach Michael Maguire only used Trbojevic sparingly in all three games. In the first game, Trbojevic played 29 minutes after the Blues went down a man and the Maroons ran away 38-10 winners.

Trbojevic played 33 minutes in the Blues' win in Game 2, before playing just 23 minutes in the decider. Fans were critical of Trbojevic's role at the time feeling the captain should be a Blues star who plays the majority of the game and can lead on the field. Others argued Trbojevic was a leader on and off the field and was valued within the Blues squad.

Regardless of the backlash, Trbojevic had the backing of the coaching staff and his teammates. And the Manly captain has also claimed he was thrilled to have helped guide the Blues to a series win .

And the humble forward admitted he didn't expect to be an automatic selection in 2025. "I wasn't really expecting (the captaincy). I know I'm getting a bit older as a player," Trbojevic said on Thursday.

"There's probably some other options that might have been injured this year. I'm a realist, I'm just happy being a good teammate. If I'm in the team next year and not captain, that's fine."

Trbojevic said he didn't try to be anyone else other than himself during the Blues camp, which Maguire admited. "It's a little bit weird. I wasn't really expecting it, I just tried to be myself," he said.

"That's why I got picked, Madge (Maguire) obviously valued something in me, I'm not sure what but he did, so I was just being myself and just did my best. I did feel a little bit out of my depth but I was just like 'I'm going to give it a crack, why not ... and it turned out really well."

Coach Michael Maguire backs Jake Trbojevic

Maguire was quick to defend his choice of captaincy from the beginning having stood by Trbojevic after the Game 1 loss. After criticism continued after the series, Maguire took aim at the doubters and offered an explanation to why he went with the Manly captain.

"People probably ask - I had a lot of you guys actually ask - about Jake being captain," Maguire said after Game 3. "It's the glue, it's the special parts in and around the team that people don't get to see. I wanted Jake as our captain because of his character, the players love him - they just had another special moment in there where they all cheered him. I felt Jake was the man that I wanted to run the team, so it was nice to see."

Manly Sea Eagles looking for home win

A win on Sunday over Cronulla would cement the Sea Eagles a home final against either the Bulldogs or the Cowboys. Manly have only lost once at 4 Pines Park this year and are confident against the Sharks.

"It's massive for us (to get a home final). It's everything on the line this week," Trbojevic said. "For us to play at Brookie, that is motivation enough. We don't have to win because we still play (finals) next week but we have to win because we want to play at Brookie next week."