The clouds lingering over Brookvale Oval appear to be parting, and at the center of the clearing is club icon Jake Trbojevic. Following a tumultuous start to the 2026 NRL season that saw the dismissal of Anthony Seibold, the Sea Eagles have found an unexpected spark under interim coach Kieran Foran. The Kiwi legend’s shift from the playing roster to the coach’s box has not only secured Manly’s first win of the year—a dominant 52-18 dismantling of the Dolphins—but it may have also extended the career of the club’s favorite son.
Silencing the Critics
Prior to last week’s blowout victory, speculation was mounting that the 32-year-old Trbojevic was nearing the end of the road. A string of lackluster performances, coupled with concerns regarding repeated head knocks and a general dip in work rate, had analysts suggesting 2026 would be his swan song. However, under Foran’s “back-to-basics” directive, the eldest Trbojevic brother turned back the clock. Recording more run meters in a single half than his previous three-game average, the veteran lock looked physically transformed, playing with a directness and aggression that had been missing under the previous regime.
A Drive for 2027
The timing of this resurgence is critical for Manly’s long-term planning. Trbojevic currently holds an option for the 2027 season, albeit at a reduced salary of approximately $500,000 to $600,000. While he technically has until Round 10 to activate the extension, club management has signaled they will grant the former NSW Origin captain as much time as necessary. The joy of the Dolphins’ win seems to have tipped the scales. “We are very close and it probably keeps me really driven to keep going when you get feelings like [that],” Trbojevic admitted, hinting that a 15th season in the maroon and white is now more likely than ever.
Galvanizing the Group
The “Foran Effect” has permeated the entire squad, replacing the tactical rigidity of the Seibold era with a competitive fire characteristic of the interim coach’s playing days. Trbojevic noted that Foran’s innate “will to win” has been infectious, restoring a sense of belief that had evaporated during the winless opening month. With the locker room firmly behind Foran and Trbojevic finding his vintage form, the Sea Eagles are suddenly looking less like a club in crisis and more like a team with a clear, albeit veteran-led, identity. If Trbojevic commits to 2027, it provides the stable foundation the club desperately needs while they search for a permanent coaching successor.