Jake Trbojevic has been named NSW’s 21st captain for the 2024 State of Origin series, following James Tedesco’s removal from the team.
Trbojevic was announced as the new captain when new coach Michael Maguire unveiled his first Origin team on Sunday night.
The decision to appoint the much-loved Manly Sea Eagles forward means that two players from the same club will captain rival Origin teams for the first time in 24 years, with Daly Cherry-Evans returning to lead Queensland.
SEN’s Jimmy Smith says that while the decision to appoint Trbojevic was surprising, it is an obvious pick.
“What price could you have gotten at the start of the year… to say the captain of the NSW state of origin team for game one of the series will be Jake Trbojevic?” Smith said on The Jimmy Smith Show.
“Most unlikely (choice) but feels so logical.”
Smith, however, believes Trbojevic’s selection reveals the role Panthers’ co-captain Isaah Yeo will play for NSW, predicting he will take on the captaincy when Trbojevic goes off.
“I would say Isaah Yeo is captain on the field for NSW for three times as much time as Jake Trbojevic will be, but he’s not going to start the game,” Smith said.
“I would suggest Isaah Yeo on the bench goes on for Jake Trbojevic 20 minutes in and then probably doesn’t come off the field, so the captain comes off and the captain goes on.
“That tells you the role that Isaah Yeo is going to play for this NSW side. I would say it’s very similar to the role he’s been playing for Penrith as of late where he’s a middle forward that doesn’t pass the ball as much. That’s exactly what he’ll do for NSW.”
Trbojevic has played more Origins than any player in Maguire’s new look Blues side, with the coach applauding his chosen skipper.
“You can’t ask for much more when Jake talks about the jersey and the passion he has for the Blues jersey," Maguire told reporters today.
“I’ve watched Jake for a long period of time. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and I think that resonates with our people in NSW.”
Trbojevic will become the third Manly player, after Geoff Toovey and Max Krilich, to lead the state on June 5th.