LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Manly Sea Eagles' star fullback, Tom Trbojevic, has had his proposal to return part of his salary rejected, according to reports.
The Sydney Morning Herald has revealed that Trbojevic, feeling guilty about his injury woes over the past few seasons, offered to give back some of his earnings.
The injury-prone fullback, who was briefly experimented with at centre by coach Anthony Seibold upon his return from yet another setback, has only managed to play 28 games since the start of the 2022 season.
While he is set to add to that tally in the remaining weeks and potential finals series, Trbojevic is still struggling with the idea of his limited game time.
Despite his desire to give back up to $700,000 of his lucrative contract, the NRL swiftly turned down his proposal, citing concerns about the dangerous precedent such an action could set.
They feared that allowing players to voluntarily reduce their salaries could lead to clubs pressuring athletes to accept lower wages in the future.
Overall, Trbojevic's offer to hand back some of his salary highlights both his integrity and dedication to the game.
However, the NRL's decision ultimately reflects their commitment to maintaining the financial stability and integrity of the sport.