Jake Trbojevic has responded to criticism of his performance in the State of Origin opener and has defended his place as NSW captain heading into a must-win clash.
The fan-favourite was limited to just 29 minutes in game one as the Blues were blown off the park by Queensland, forcing them into a tricky spot for the rest of the series.
Trbojevic was handed the captaincy by new coach Michael Maguire prior to the opener, taking over from James Tedesco, but was benched for a large chunk of the 38-10 loss.
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Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald, the 30-year-old was quizzed on whether Maguire addressed the situation and how he felt about the likes of Mark Geyer calling for the Blues to move in a different direction for the captaincy.
Jake Trbojevic on the bench during the Origin opener. NRL Images
“He did [address it], but he didn’t have to. It was fine,” Trbojevic said.
“It’s professional sport and I’m a grown man. It’s the way it goes. It’s the highest level. It’s not like under-8s where you share your minutes. I’ve been around a long time.
“If you get to play for the Blues, it doesn’t matter how many minutes you get. I’m just happy to be here. The way the game worked out, you’ve got to realise we were chasing points with a man down … I’m probably not the man for that to be fair.
“We probably needed someone with a bit more leg speed.”
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Trbojevic has been entrusted with the leadership role again for next Wednesday’s match in Melbourne, despite the inclusion of Rabbitohs skipper Cameron Murray.
The ever-positive Manly forward believes he is in a better position to captain his state heading into this game than he was at Accor Stadium.
“I was probably a bit nervous at first last time,” Trbojevic said.
“It’s about being confident. You’re there for a reason and you’ve got good people around you. Just back yourself, that’s something I’ve learned.
“The lucky thing is we’ve got a chance to turn it around. I’m just happy to be starting, happy to be out there and happy to be captain.”