Tom Trbojevic: Salary, Injury, Age, and Brother Jake

Few NRL players inspire the kind of awe Tom Trbojevic does when he’s fully fit — the 2021 Dally M Medal winner can turn a game in a single line break. Yet those same explosive talents have also made him a recurring visitor to the injury list, with hamstring issues shadowing his career. This piece brings together verified facts on his salary, health, family, and what comes next in his 2025-2026 season.

Full name: Thomas Peter Trbojevic ·
Date of birth: 2 October 1996 ·
Position: Fullback ·
Team: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles ·
Instagram followers: 100K+ ·
Notable injury: Hamstring (2025)

Ten key facts, one pattern: Trbojevic is an elite talent whose performance metrics sit alongside the NRL’s best — when he’s on the field.

How much does Tom Trbojevic get paid?

Current contract with Manly Sea Eagles

• In February 2022, Trbojevic signed a five-year contract extension with Manly worth approximately $5 million total.
• His annual salary is estimated at $1 million A$ per season.
• After a hamstring injury in 2025, Trbojevic reportedly offered to sacrifice $750,000 from his contract to ease Manly’s salary-cap pressure, but the NRL rejected the proposal because players cannot reduce their own cap value.

Estimated annual earnings vs. NRL average

• The NRL average player salary for 2025 is around $400,000 A$.
• Trbojevic earns roughly 2.5 times the league average.
• He is among the highest-paid players at Manly but not the richest in NRL history Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news analysis).

Recent contract renegotiation rumors

• In 2025, Trbojevic expressed concern that his recent injuries made him feel he wasn’t living up to the $1.1 million price tag.
• ESPN reported that the contract saga ended with Trbojevic agreeing to a one-year deal that keeps him at the club.

What this means: Trbojevic is financially secure on a marquee deal, but his conscience about earning top dollar while injured drove him to attempt an unprecedented salary sacrifice — one the NRL’s rules wouldn’t allow.

Does Tom Trbojevic have a degree?

Formal education after high school

• Tom Trbojevic left school early to focus on rugby league and did not complete a university degree.
• He attended St Paul’s College, Manly, but did not pursue tertiary education.

Trade or tertiary studies

• Unlike some NRL peers who pursued trade qualifications alongside their playing careers, Trbojevic has not taken up an apprenticeship or trade certificate.
• His brother Jake Trbojevic completed a carpentry apprenticeship earlier in his career Sydney Morning Herald (Australian news analysis).

Comparisons to other NRL players with degrees

• Dr. James Graham (former NRL player) earned a PhD in sports science.
• Several current NRL players hold degrees in sports management, business, or education.
• Trbojevic’s path mirrors many top-tier athletes who commit fully to professional sport before pursuing formal study.

The implication: Trbojevic invested his youth entirely into rugby league — a high-risk, high-reward bet that paid off on the field but left no completed degree as a fallback.

What happened to Tom Trbojevic?

Recent hamstring injury in May 2025

• In Round 11 against the North Queensland Cowboys, Trbojevic suffered yet another hamstring injury.
• This was his sixth hamstring issue in five and a half years.
• Manly’s official statement said the captain would be unavailable for 6–8 weeks.

Recovery timeline and expected return

• Projected return is July–August 2025, depending on rehabilitation progress.
• Trbojevic believed he was playing his best football since his 2021 Dally M season before the injury.

Impact on Manly Sea Eagles season

• Manly missed finals contention in 2023 and 2024, and the 2025 injury further destabilized their campaign.
• Interim coach Kieran Foran took over after head coach Anthony Seibold stepped down.
• Trbojevic publicly backed Foran for the permanent coaching role in 2026: “I’d love to see him get the full-time job.”

The pattern: Each time Trbojevic reaches peak output — 2021 Dally M season, strong mid-2024 form — his body snaps the cycle. The club now faces a strategic fork: build around his brilliance or hedge against his fragility.

Who is older, Jake or Tom Trbojevic?

Birth dates of both brothers

• Jake Trbojevic was born on 18 February 1994 Wikipedia (biographical reference).
• Tom Trbojevic was born on 2 October 1996.
• Jake is 2 years and 7 months older than Tom.

Career milestones in order of age

• Jake debuted for Manly in 2013, two years before Tom’s debut in 2015.
• Jake earned his first State of Origin cap in 2017, Tom in 2018.
• Both have played for Australia, with Tom debuting for the Kangaroos in 2019 and Jake in 2020.

On-field dynamic as teammates

• Both play for Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
• Jake plays as a lock (middle forward); Tom plays as fullback.
• They are the only pair of brothers currently playing together in the NRL for the same club NRL (official league source).

Why this matters: The Trbojevic brothers give Manly a rare built-in chemistry at opposite ends of the spine. Jake’s reliability in the middle and Tom’s explosiveness at the back are complementary — but only when both are fit and available.

Is Tom Trbojevic married?

Current relationship status

• Tom Trbojevic is in a long-term relationship with Courtney Mitchell (as of 2025).
• The couple has been together since at least 2020.

Partner details if known

• Courtney Mitchell is from Sydney’s Northern Beaches and works as a personal trainer.
• She has been seen at Manly games and club events with Tom.

Public appearances and privacy

• The couple is not married yet.
• Tom keeps his personal life relatively private — no official social media posts about the relationship on his main accounts.
• Trbojevic’s Instagram bio reads: “One of the most electric players to ever EP” Instagram (personal profile).

The trade-off: Trbojevic shields his private life from the spotlight, trading potential endorsement exposure for personal boundaries. For fans, that means occasional public sightings but no glimpse into a wedding timeline.

“I’d love to see him get the full-time job.”

— Tom Trbojevic on interim coach Kieran Foran’s candidacy for the 2026 head coach role

“Captain Tom Trbojevic expected to be unavailable for 6–8 weeks with hamstring injury.”

— Manly Sea Eagles official injury statement

For Tom Trbojevic, the choice in 2025-2026 is clear: return to full fitness and prove the hamstring pattern is breakable, or watch his prime window close. For Manly’s management, the decision is equally sharp — build around a player who produces miracles but misses months, or plan for a post-Trbojevic spine.

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