Manly forward Jake Trbojevic will sport a very different look during the 2026 season in the hope it helps him continue his decorated career in the NRL.
The tough lock-forward, 31, suffered three serious concussions last season – the last of which ended his 2025 campaign.
There was even talk that Trbojevic’s footy career might be over due to repeated head knocks.
But after deciding not to hang up his boots, Trbojevic, for the first time in his long career, will don headgear in the hope it can protect him and avoid further concussions.
But it’s not any old design.
Trbojevic will wear a new type of headgear, which looks like a roll of bubble wrap.
Manly forward Jake Trbojevic has been training in the new headgear in the lead-up to the 2026 NRL season
Trbojevic is helped from the field in 2025 in a match against the Cowboys after one of his three major concussions last year
‘Obviously if I have another one (concussion) it’s not going to be great for me,’ Trbojevic said.
‘I’ve never worn headgear, and this one is a little bit different, but as I said there is a lot of research behind it, so to me it was silly if I didn’t give it a go.
‘The fact there is research behind it, when you get head knocks that your brain doesn’t accelerate as much, I think that sort of just won me over. I was all in, so I’m giving it a go and I don’t really care what it looks like.’
Trbojevic has worked on his tackling technique despite being known as one of the best technical defenders in the game.
He’s also completed exercises to strengthen his neck muscles but admitted that he needed to make sure his head was in the right spot while tackling.
‘Obviously I was getting my head in the wrong spot, not using my feet, and might have been bouncing off the line a bit recklessly,’ he said.
‘I think your feet are the most important thing in defence, so just might have missed a trick last year, but hopefully we can go back to doing it well.’
Trbojevic, who married Alix Waddell in 2024, also explained that because his three head knocks last year were severe, he was able to spend more time with his wife.
Trbojevic and Alix Waddell were married in late 2024 (pictured, after announcing their engagement)
The tough forward always puts his body on the line (pictured, in a clash against the Roosters)
What he’s trying to avoid is becoming concussed through minor knocks to the head, which typically means a player’s career is over.
Roosters legend Boyd Cordner hung up his boots in 2021 following repeated concussions through minor contact.
‘Speaking to the doctor, the good thing is all three knocks were solid knocks, so they probably would have concussed most people,’ Trbojevic said.
‘When it starts becoming real little minor ones that are affecting you on the biggest scale, that’s a real issue.’
Trbojevic said he may also shift away from playing lock to move into the front-row to accommodate new recruit Kobe Hetherington.
‘We haven’t talked about final teams and that sort of thing yet, but I’m happy to play wherever,’ he said.
‘As I said, I’m just hoping I can stay on the field this year.’
