Trbojevic: Foz is the man to lead Manly

Injured Manly Sea Eagles captain Tom Trbojevic has urged his club to sign interim head coach Kieran Foran to the full-time head coach role.

The Sea Eagles were 0-3 when they made the decision to sack head coach Anthony Seibold just a month into the season. Foran, who only retired at the end of the 2025 season, assumed the position as an inexperienced interim head coach.

Since then, Manly have won six of their past seven matches with the only loss coming against the first-placed Penrith Panthers.

Trbojevic has credited Foran in lifting the confidence of his teammates which has seen Manly go from 14th in Round 4 to fourth at the end of Round 11.

“I’d love him to be the head coach,”Trbojevic told SEN 1170.

“Kieran has always had a great temperament when he’s talked.

“He just instills belief in the playing group (and) we all have so much respect for him. We all just want to perform for him.

“It was a big job for Kieran to step into and the boys have just responded to it.

“He believes in everyone and if you can’t get up for Kieran Foran, just hand the jersey back.

“I speak on behalf of everyone at the club that we’d love to have him there.

“He drives high standards and he’ll let you know if you aren’t doing well enough.

“You can often make it more technical and harder than it needs to be but Kieran makes it very simple when he breaks it down.

“I don’t know what process it has to go to but I’m sure Kingy (CEO Jason King) is having conversations with the right people and it will get done.”

Trbojevic injured his hamstring in Manly’s Round 7 win against the North Queensland Cowboys and has largely sat on the sidelines during Foran’s incredible winning streak as coach.

Trbojevic believes he will unfortunately not return in Round 13 as was initially expected but is confident his body will hold up for the remainder of the season.

“Recovery from hamstrings can be a bit slower than you’d like them to be,” Trbojevic added.

“It won’t be Round 13. We’ll try for one or two matches after that but we’ll see how I’m tracking.

“It’s a big period now with State of Origin with a couple of the players making the squad.

“There are a few different things I’ve got to work on (but) I’ve just got to build some confidence back.

“It’s a process and it’s one that I’m familiar with.

“Hopefully I can be back soon to help the boys out.”

Manly host the Gold Coast Titans at 4 Pines Park on Saturday night.