NRL Rd 1 - Panthers v Sea Eagles
PENRITH, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 10: Tom Trbojevic of the Sea Eagles is tackled during the round one NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Manly Sea Eagles at BlueBet Stadium on March 10, 2022, in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Manly Sea Eagles superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic has opened up on Des Hasler's shock sacking from the club, stating he never wanted to leave.

In the aftermath of the veteran coach being axed from the Northern Beaches, reports suggested that both Tom and brother Jake Trbojevic were keen on finding their way out of Manly.

Hasler's sacking from the club followed a disastrous seven-game losing streak to end the 2022 campaign which pushed the Sea Eagles out of finals contention.

He has since been replaced by Anthony Seibold, who has been joined by new assistant coach Shane Flanagan.

Speaking after New South Wales unveiled their new State of Origin jersey, Trbojevic told The Sydney Morning Herald he was happy at the club where he has spent the entirety of.

“I'm very happy,” Trbojevic told the publication.

“A lot of things were being said in the media, etc. but I'm happy. I just want to play good footy for them.”

“A lot of things were getting tossed out, but we just want to play good footy and win games. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do that at the back end of last year, we need to turn that around.”

He told News Corp that as long as Manly wants him at the club, he won't be going anywhere.

“If Manly want me at the club, there is no way I am going to leave,” Trbojevic said. “I couldn't say I was ever going to leave Manly. The reality is I have another four years left at the club.

“A lot was being said at that time in the media and it was quite hard. You can get attached to it (the situation) and get high on emotion.

“But once you sit back and have a think, and think about the reasons why you play footy, the big thing was that I love playing with my brothers.

“Once you think about that it makes things a lot easier. Manly is where I love playing. We love playing at Manly."

Trbojevic is on contract at the Sea Eagles until the end of the 2026 season, and will be hoping to return to his best in 2023 after an injury-riddled 2022.

The Sea Eagles had made the preliminary finals on the back of Trbojevic's brilliance in 2021, and Trbojevic said Hasler could return to the coaching game.

“If he wants to coach again, then definitely," he said.

“He's such a good coach and any club would benefit from having him there."