Jake and Tom Trbojevic still have plenty of time for at least one Queenslander – Daly Cherry-Evans.
The Blues brothers could be forgiven for craving a return to State of Origin camp this week and getting as far as away from the Sea Eagles as possible.
Brothers: Jake and Tom Trbojevic in NSW camp in Sydney ahead of Origin II.
Photo: James Brickwood
But the star siblings are not only convinced Manly can turn their season around, but are adamant that under-fire Manly captain Cherry-Evans is the man to lead them.
Cherry-Evans was last week on the end of a vicious verbal blast from Anthony Watmough – the former Sea Eagles favourite labelled him a ''f—wit' – and there was even a push by some good judges for Jake to replace the club's $10 million man as skipper.
But as Origin II at ANZ Stadium edged closer, Jake told Fairfax Media he had no captaincy aspirations and threw his support behind Cherry-Evans.
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He also revealed he had not spoken to Manly outcast Jackson Hastings and said he hoped rookie rake Manase Fainu was given the all-clear by the NRL to make his first-grade debut.
"I haven't thought about that [captaincy] … Cherry is doing a great job and he's a great leader," Jake Trbojevic said.
"The last couple of years he's done a phenomenal job. I know everyone gives it to him but he handles it well. The criticism he cops from certain people is definitely not deserved. It's pretty unfair.
"We see how hard he works and trains and how much it means to him playing for Manly. If everyone cared as much as he did we'd be fine."
Tom Trbojevic said of Cherry-Evans: "It's been hard for him and that whole thing [from Watmough] last week came out of nowhere.
"We love having him at Manly, he's a quality player and we love him as skipper."
Another hot topic on the northern beaches is the future of Hastings, the player who was involved in an incident with Cherry-Evans during an away trip to Gladstone earlier this season and is no chance of being selected again by coach Trent Barrett.
The only way the Sea Eagles can register Fainu is if Hastings takes up a deal from interested English Super League clubs before June 30.
Another option for Manly that has not been raised is terminating Nate Myles' contract – he is already being paid out – and creating an extra spot on their roster.
Barrett said after Saturday night's loss to St George Illawarra he would try every Monday to convince the NRL to register Fainu's deal.
"I haven't talked to [Hastings] because he's been playing with Blacktown," Jake said.
"It definitely would make it easier [if he took a deal] because we wanted to play Manase on the weekend and we weren't allowed.
"He's only young and it would be ideal to give him some experience this back end of the year. He's a bloody good player.
"He was in the 20s last year. They won the comp and he was a big part of that. This year he hasn't missed a beat. He's strong, skilful and I'd love to see him get a go."
Tom, meanwhile, did well to recover from the ultimate tackle from Greg Inglis in game one of the Origin series.
Inglis was penalised for being offside but Tom described the first-half belter as "the biggest hit I've been hit with".
"He got me good a few times," Tom said of Inglis.
"The biggest thing I learned [from game one] was how hard you need to work to win a game of Origin.
"Everyone realised that, everyone was working for each other out there, and that's what I noticed most. Hopefully we do the same Sunday night."
Trbojevic was brilliant on the wing, and although he is Manly's star No.1, he said he made a point of looking for the ball to start the sets.
Christian covers rugby league for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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