Growing up as a young boy, Jake Trbojevic used to love State of Origin nights.
Rushing home from school, counting down the hours until kick-off on Channel Nine, to the angst his late beloved ‘Pa’ would cause by wearing a Queensland shirt, the boy from the Mona Vale Raiders just thrived on Origin.
In between enjoying the special food treats that are compulsory on Origin nights, a young Jake would often run around wearing a Blues jersey with the number 7 on it – that of his hero, Andrew Johns.
“We use to have Origin nights at home and everyone would come around. Pa was a bit of a larrikin. He used to wear a Queensland shirt over to our place to stir us all up,’’ Jake reflected.
“He still went for NSW but would yell out Queensland (laughs).
“I used to love that number 7 jersey. I had it for a few years. Everyone loved Andrew Johns. I was no different.
“They were some of the best nights of our lives. We would stay up late past our bedtime. Just watching those games, it was so cool. So cool.”
Fast forward to today, and what a party it will be for the Trbojevic family next Wednesday night, when a now 30-year-old Jake captains the NSW Blues for the very first time at Accor Stadium, Homebush, in Game One of the Origin series.
In the words of the late great Nine Origin caller, Darrell Eastlake, it’s going to be one ‘HUGE’’ night for the Trbojevic clan and extended family.
“It’s (going to be) nerve-wracking leading the Blues out’’ said Trbojevic, who made his NSW debut in 2017.
“But it’s going to be so good. Hopefully, the Blues come out on top. Let’s go.”
With 16 NSW games behind him, Trbojevic is the most experienced of the Blues players chosen. His passion and love for the Blues jersey is as ‘HUGE’ as Eastlake’s booming calls were.
It’s why new Blues Coach Michal Maguire said choosing Trbojevic as the 21st NSW captain was ‘pretty easy’.
“He wears his heart on his sleeve and I think that resonates with our people in NSW,’’ Maguire explained.
The NSW captaincy role just adds to another amazing first half of the year for Trbojevic, who got engaged to partner Alix on his 30th Birthday, to playing alongside his brothers, Tom and Ben, in a history making Manly win in Las Vegas in March.
“A lot has been happening, it’s been a big year,’’ said a laughing, smiling Trbojevic.
“Hopefully (it gets bigger). I’m just really happy to be in this position. It’s a special jersey the Blues one and being appointed captain was a bit of a shock, but I’m very excited.
“I’m just going to be myself. Don’t change anything. Obviously, it’s a big occasion but the key is not getting overwhelmed by it all.
“What I have been doing has got me here, so that’s what I have got to keep doing.
“What ‘Madge’ said about me being captain, that definitely helped me a bit. Just be myself and don’t change. We’ve got so many great players, plenty of strength, and some great leaders.
“I’ve played under a lot of great captains in Jamie Lyon and Daly Cherry-Evans at Manly, and Boyd Cordner and James Tedesco with NSW.
“You do take a little bit from each of them but it’s about being yourself. And that's what I will do.”
