The same passion for his state that made Jake Trbojevic the perfect choice as NSW captain is the same passion for his state that ensured he wouldn’t be kicking stones about a lack of game time in the series opener.
Handed the honour of leading the Blues in his 17th Origin appearance, Trbojevic savoured a “surreal” experience when he led the team out in front of a home crowd in Sydney, before the game was turned on its head eight minutes in when Joseph Su’aali’i was marched.
With the Blues down 20-6 and scrambling to life with 12 men, Trbojevic was subbed out of the game after 25 minutes, only getting back on the field with four minutes to play.
To many observers it looked like a kick in the guts for a man who would have done anything to help his state in their hour and 12 minutes of need, but Trbojevic said he had been around long enough to know that things don’t always go to plan.
“I’m a grown man, this is professional sport at the highest level, it’s not under 8s where you share your minutes,” Trbojevic told media in Blues camp on Wednesday.
“Madge [Michael Maguire] did speak to me after the game but he didn’t have to.
“The way the game worked out, when you’re chasing points with one less middle, I’m probably not the man for that to be fair. You need someone with more leg speed.
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“Lots of things that were planned went out the window – you can plan for all scenarios except having a man sent off.
“I’m happy to play my role whatever it is. If I got picked in the team and my role was to play five minutes, I would do that every day of the week. I’d do the same for Manly, I get it, it’s completely fine.”
Selfless and self-deprecating, Trbojevic said he was shocked to be made captain in a squad that included so many leaders, but he is feeling more comfortable in the role heading into Game Two.
“When Madge rang me and told me I was captain, he just told me to be myself and he said he likes how much I love the game and that’s what I bring,” Trbojevic said.
“There’s so many good people around me so I knew I didn’t need to change my ways. Just be myself, be passionate and hope my love for the jersey comes through.
“Madge said these people around you will do their job and I just do my role and be myself and love the game and love being in camp.
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“I was a bit nervous at first about being captain but the fact we had so many good leaders in the team made the whole week so much easier.
“It took me a few days to find my feet the first time but I’m more comfortable this time.”
Trbojevic will lead a new-look team in Game Two, with two huge inclusions in Rabbitohs pair Latrell Mitchell and Cameron Murray, both of whom know what it takes to win Origin series.
“Latrell brings belief and he is one of those people who can do things others can’t,” Trbojevic said.
“In the big moments he gets it right, he did it in 2018 and again in 2021 where he really went after the game.
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“He’s got an aura about him, people watch the game because of him, and hopefully he can keep producing.
“It’s great to have Cam back as well. He has great leg speed and he plays above his weight.
“If we are prepared to play the long game and take it to the championship rounds then we know we can do it because we did it with 12 men in Sydney.
“We can take some confidence and belief out of that 20-25 minutes where we did get on top for a bit.”
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