The Sea Eagles coach has backed the injury-hit Tom Trbojevic as the NSW Blues get ready to announce their State of Origin team.

Manly coach Anthjony Seibold has gone in to bat for embattled fullback Tom Trbojevic, as speculation grows in the NRL that the 26-year-old’s form this season will not be enough to guarantee him a spot in the NSW State of Origin team. The Sea Eagles were beaten 20-14 by Cronulla on Sunday, with Trbojevic giving up a crucial try after he was clean beaten for pace by Sharks backrower Briton Nikora.

It was a rare occasion in which ‘Turbo’ found himself beaten for pace, prompting NRL commentator Cooper Cronk to declare him ‘nowhere near 100 per cent’ following a minor groin injury back in April. The Blues will name their side for Origin I on May 31, with speculation that Trbojevic is no certainty to appear in coach Brad Fittler’s side.

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Seibold came to Trbojevic’s defence on Sunday night, saying the devastating kicking game of reigning Dally M winner Nicho Hynes had but not only Trbojevic but the entire side in an unenviable position on several occasions. He said the difference had been Trbojevic’s ‘intent’ – a key sign that he isn’t far from his full potential.

“It’s hard for him when Nicho Hynes kicked us into a corner – he was the Dally M Medallist last year and is really effective with his kicking game so he suffocated us there,” Seibold said. “But the thing I really liked about Tom’s game, although he didn’t get in the clear as such, just the intent that he carried the footy with, like he was carrying the footy on tackle three and lots of times on tackle five, really charging into the opposition.

“There was plenty of intent there and that’s a good thing, when Tommy has that intent we know he’s not far away from playing his best footy. We were not giving him and (Daly Cherry-Evans) opportunities down the right end of the field in the first half.”