After being blindsided by Daly Cherry-Evans telling them he was leaving, Manly could be saying farewell to a second long-term star with Tom Trbojevic eyeing off a potential switch to the Super League.

The injury-plagued fullback is off contract at the end of next year and the Sea Eagles have kicked off negotiations with the former Dally M Medal winner and his older brother Jake.

Manly are looking to avoid a repeat of the DCE situation in which the skipper informed them earlier this year that he would not be sticking around next year after protracted contract negotiations reached a stalemate.

According to a Sydney Morning Herald report, Tom is interested in finishing his career in the Super League and the 28-year-old may make a switch at the end of his contract.

Young gun Lehi Hopoate has made every post a winner when filling in for Trbojevic in the No.1 jersey and after starring in last Saturday’s thumping win over Brisbane, he will again line up at the back for Thursday’s trip to Newcastle.

Tom has been rested for a second straight week to get over his nagging injuries while Jake will make a return after a recent heavy concussion which ruled him out of State of Origin calculations.

Jake is likely to be offered a short-term contract extension as he will be 33 by the time the 2027 season rolls around.

Tom will turn 30 at the end of next season and with the wear and tear on his body after a string of hamstring, shoulder and knee injuries, a move to the UK could prolong his career.

Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold had floated the prospect of switching Tom to five-eighth next season in a bid to curtail his run of injuries but with Raiders veteran Jamal Fogarty joining the club and Luke Brooks locked in at five-eighth, they could look to put Trbojevic into the centres.

Hopoate has been used on the wing when Trbojevic has been available and the 20-year-old is viewed as the club’s next long-term fullback.

Walker ready to continue rise

Sydney Roosters half Sam Walker will make his rugby league return with a determination to become a better player than he was before an ACL injury cut him down.

Walker’s close analysis of the play of Melbourne’s halves has crystallised in his mind where that improvement can come.

The 22-year-old will play his first game since round 26 last year when he lines up for the Roosters’ NSW Cup side against Parramatta at Kellyville Park on Sunday.

Walker, an influential and deep-thinking playmaker, has not just been diligent in rehab during his time out of the game. He’s been watching other leading halves in the NRL and assessing what attributes he can add to his skill set. 

“I think I can be a better player for sure,” Walker told AAP.

“While sitting out I have been able to pick up on different trends in the game to learn more about myself and what I want to bring into my game.

“I want to come back with a really strong running game. Kicking and passing I guess has been a strong attribute early in my career but I feel like the next step is my running game and I am really looking forward to putting that on show.

Sam Walker is carried off the ground. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

“I look at the Melbourne halves Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes. Their team is doing really well and it is on the back of them having that run-first attitude. 

“Munster is always putting himself in a position where he can take the line on or impact a game. I feel like I can do that within my own style.

“It is about having the thought, training for it and working hard on it so it becomes second nature.”

Walker is likely to have a 20-30 minute stint in NSW Cup with the aim to return to NRL after the Roosters have the bye this weekend. They will finish round 14 on the cusp of the top eight and in position to make a run for the finals.

Walker’s return is right on schedule.

“There are so many ACLs in the NRL and you are always told that nine-month mark. To come back between round 13 and 15 was always the goal,” Walker said.

“I wanted to be one hundred per cent and make sure my body is as good as it can be.

“We are in a really good position to go after this season. I want to make sure I am at my best so we can play at our best.”

Walker said this teammates had been a great support and inspiration, with so many of them returning from similar injuries to his.

“We have had six or seven in our team that have gone through it. Egan Butcher is a good example,” he said.

“Egan came back and played NRL (in round eight) and did his knee months before I did mine. 

“I am following in behind him. It has been good to watch his progression because he is someone who trains really hard that I can look towards. 

“Teddy (James Tedesco) had his early in his career and look where he has ended up. 

“It is definitely not something that will set you back your whole career, that is for sure.”

Howarth learns lessons from Harry

Melbourne centre Jack Howarth admits he had a lot to learn about being an NRL player at the Storm until club captain Harry Grant explained a few home truths to him.

The 22-year-old is regarded by Queensland and Storm legend Cooper Cronk as a Maroons player of the near future but that only became abundantly clear last year in Howarth’s breakout season on the way to the grand final.

Howarth, a former Australian Schoolboys league gun and Brisbane Boys Colleges (BBC) rugby star, signed a five-year contract with the Storm in January, 2022.

It took him until 2024 to get a regular gig with the Storm but now the former Queensland under 19s league rep has his sights set on a Maroons debut.

“I lived with Harry Grant for a year and he would cut clips up for me and tell me what I was doing right and what I needed to do better to be in the team,” Howarth told AAP.

Jack Howarth is tackled. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

“Harry had explained to me a few things I had to change because what I thought was important is a lot different to what (Storm coach) Craig Bellamy thinks is important. 

“Craig is a very effort area type of person and I was always more concerned with how I went in attack. That is what I would base my game off, whereas he based a good game off defence and effort so I realised that and switched my mentality.

“My dream is  to play for Queensland. It is the pinnacle of rugby league, especially coming from Rockhampton and doing all my schooling in Brisbane.

“Just being amongst all the Origins in Brisbane growing up was crazy. Hopefully I do get the opportunity.”

Howarth is a huge young man with ball skills, speed and genuine oomph. He has only just returned to the Storm side after missing six weeks with a shoulder dislocation.

He will line up in the centres against North Queensland at AAMI Park on Friday night. Selection in this year’s Origin series may appear a bridge too far but Howarth knows what Maroons coach Billy Slater, who helps out the Storm, wants from him.

‘Billy does show me a few clips from games,” Howarth said.

“He is very similar to Craig. It is the effort areas that he wants me to do well in.”

with AAP