'NSW will get behind Jake': Sea Eagles pride in rival Origin captains

Manly coach Anthony Seibold predicted NSW would get behind a Jake Trbojevic-led NSW team as he described the pride of having the rival Blues and Maroons skippers chosen from the club.

Trbojevic will captain NSW in the June 5 series opener at Accor Stadium after new Blues coach Michael Maguire dropped a selection bombshell by choosing Dylan Edwards at fullback ahead of James Tedesco.

Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans is set to again lead Queensland, who will name their team on Monday.

It is the first time the rival Origin captains have come from the same club since the Roosters duo of Brad Fittler (NSW) and Adrian Lam (Queensland) in the 2000 series.

Canberra’s Mal Meninga (Queensland) and Laurie Daley (NSW) also went head-to-head as Origin captains in the 1992, 1993 and 1994 series.

“It’s quite unusual but it is great recognition for two really great people and really good players,” Seibold said.

“As a club, we are really proud of those guys. Everyone in our club knows the standard that they set with their actions and their words. People follow them and want to follow them, so we are blessed to have them.”

Sea Eagles GM of football John Bonasera broke the news to Trbojevic that he had not only been selected by Maguire but would also captain the Blues for the first time.

Trbojevic has been vice-captain to Cherry-Evans at Manly since 2017 and skippered the Sea Eagles for three matches in 2019 when the star playmaker was sidelined by an ankle injury.

He was also captain in 2022 while Cherry-Evans was on Origin duty with Queensland – the only series Trbojevic has missed since making his debut for the Blues in 2017.

Having made 16 Origin appearances, he is the most experienced member of the current NSW squad.

“I think it is a really inspired choice and I think he will do a great job,” Seibold said. “I am a Queenslander, but I know the people of NSW will get behind Jake.

“He is a real quality human being and he sets a standard with all the other parts of the game, and his toughness. It is great recognition of Jake, he has been doing this for a long time now.

“Working with him day to day I know what he brings in regards to how good a person he is and the care he has for his team. He has got that want and willingness to compete every day and in every game.”

Seibold said the club was also pleased that strike second-rower Haumole Olakauátu had been named on the interchange for NSW.

The powerful forward has been close to Origin selection for the past two years but he has gone to another level in 2024, being one of the NRL's most damaging edge runners.  Olakauátu has already represented Tonga at Test level.

"It has been (touching distance). If I'm being honest it has played with my head the last couple years," Olakau'atu told Manly's website.

"But this year, I've really learned to just do what I could do for Manly and help my team get some wins in the season and just let my actions do some talking.

"I feel like my strength and physicality has been at a whole other level this year compared to what it was last year or the year before.

"And, also just dealing with it mentally, it's been pretty good this year, how I have dealt with it."