Manly Sea Eagles captain Tom Trbojevic has come forward to support his older brother Jake amid some tough criticism following a rocky start to the season that has left the Sea Eagles with a 0-2 record.
The team aims to turn things around as they prepare to face the Sydney Roosters at Brookvale this Thursday.
This match marks the return of long-time club legend Daly Cherry-Evans, but this time he will be playing for the opposing team.
As Jake's performance has come under scrutiny, many are questioning his ability to handle the demands of the lock position for Manly.
Despite the doubts, Tom has expressed confidence in his brother, emphasizing his significance to the Sea Eagles' success.
"I briefly got tipped up on this before, I don't like to read into it too much, but I think it's a little bit disappointing that he's coming under fire," he said.
"A lot of people that watch the game get caught up in the stats - but he's a real leader for us in defence and the way he links the attack together."
Tom further stated, "I really think it's unfair that he is coming under criticism, the way he's gone after these two weeks considering he's coming off a head injury last year, it's been great."
He concluded, "I know Jake is a different character and he does get quite worked up, but I think he's tough enough to know that journalists and analysts are entitled to their own opinions."