Gallen renews push for Trbojevic switch after devastating injury blow
Paul Gallen has renewed calls for Tom Trbojevic to shift back to the centres after another injury to the superstar fullback.
Trbojevic was hit by a minor right hamstring strain during his Manly side’s loss to the Titans at the weekend and had his head in his hands when leaving the ground.
Tom Trbojevic. Getty
The 29-year-old has been ruled out for at least a month, having only recently returned from a serious injury to his left hamstring.
Last season, Trbojevic played five matches at centre in an attempt to change his workload but ultimately shifted back to fullback.
His last two years were the most successful in terms of injury, playing 20 matches in 2024 and 18 in 2025.
This year he’s managed 11 games and missed the Origin series.
The 2020 and 2022 seasons were Trbojevic’s worst for injuries, playing seven games in each year. In 2021 he played 18 matches and won the Dally M medal.
Gallen believes it’s time for the fullback to re-evaluate where he’s at in his career.
“I think he’s at a stage where he’s got to take a real look at his career and where he’s going to be when he comes back,” he said on Nine’s 100% Footy.
“He’s such a nice guy and we hate talking about him and judging him because he’s such a good person and player.
“Where he was in 2021 when he won the Dally M compared to where he’s been since then, it’s chalk and cheese. I personally think he’s going to have to move to the centres.”
Gallen admitted that during Trbojevic’s time in the centres last season he looked “disinterested” without less involvement in the game.
However, the workload in the fullback position could prove to be the deciding factor.
“At the end of the day, the amount of kilometres as far as running fullbacks do during the week and then game day, would be double the nearest player in the team,” he said.
“Maybe their halves run around those metres but their centres certainly don’t.
“For his career and going forward for him to play as much football as he can, he’s going to have to reduce the amount of kilometres he runs and for me that’s from moving out of fullback.”
Trbojevic had appeared on 100% Footy last year in June and admitted it was “disappointing to hear” when he was shifted to centre.
During that appearance, he also revealed previous thoughts around retirement due to the injuries but added he’d like to play for another six or seven years.
