Jake Trbojevic: Age, Brothers, Injury, Wife, and Career Facts

Few NRL players embody the ‘club man’ ethos quite like Jake Trbojevic. As the eldest of the Trbojevic brothers, he has been the quiet pillar of the Manly Sea Eagles pack since his debut in 2013 — doing the grunt work while younger siblings grabbed backline highlights.

Full name: Jake Trbojevic ·
Date of birth: 18 February 1994 ·
Age: 31 (as of 2025) ·
Position: Lock / Prop ·
NRL club: Manly Warringah Sea Eagles ·
NRL debut: 2013

Six career facts, one pattern: Jake Trbojevic’s professional life has been defined by longevity, family, and a willingness to do the hard yards in the middle of the field.

Who is older, Jake or Tom Trbojevic?

Jake Trbojevic is the older of the two NRL stars. According to Wikipedia (biographical database), Jake was born on 18 February 1994 on Sydney’s Northern Beaches. His younger brother Tom, as noted by Wikipedia (biographical database), arrived on 10 October 1996.

Jake Trbojevic birth date

• 18 February 1994 (Wikipedia (biographical database))
• Born in Mona Vale, Sydney (Wikipedia (biographical database))
• Junior club: Mona Vale Raiders (Wikipedia (biographical database))

Tom Trbojevic birth date

• 10 October 1996 (Wikipedia (biographical database))
• Younger than Jake by over two years
• Also born on Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Age difference between the brothers

• Jake is 2 years and 7 months older than Tom (Wikipedia (biographical database))
• Jake turned 31 in February 2025, Tom turned 28 in October 2024
• Both debuted for Manly before either turned 21

The implication: Jake’s seniority in age mirrors his role on the field — he is the defensive enforcer, the player who takes the early hits so Tom can roam free at fullback.

Are Ben and Luke Trbojevic twins?

Yes, Ben and Luke Trbojevic are identical twins. Both were born on 20 August 2001, according to Wikipedia (biographical database), making them the youngest of the four Trbojevic brothers. They share the same birth date, the same junior club background, and the same NRL employer: the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.

Ben Trbojevic birth date

• 20 August 2001 (Wikipedia (biographical database))
• Plays as a second-rower and centre for Manly
• Made his NRL debut in 2023

Luke Trbojevic birth date

• 20 August 2001 (Wikipedia (biographical database))
• Also plays in the forwards for Manly
• Has featured in NSW Cup and first-grade opportunities

Twin status confirmation

• Identical twins — same birth date and similar physical build
• The only set of twins among the Trbojevic siblings
• Both attended the same school and played junior footy together

The catch: having four brothers in one NRL squad is rare. Having twins among them makes the Trbojevic story unique in Australian rugby league. But it also creates a defensive coordination challenge for the Sea Eagles — all four brothers have now played first grade, and three are fixtures in the match-day 17.

Is Tom Trbojevic Serbian?

Tom Trbojevic is of Serbian descent through his father’s side of the family. According to Wikipedia (biographical database), his paternal grandparents emigrated from Serbia to Australia, giving the Trbojevic name its distinctive Balkan origin.

Tom Trbojevic ethnicity

• Serbian heritage via his father’s family (Wikipedia (biographical database))
• He has expressed pride in his cultural background in media interviews
• Represents Australia internationally, not Serbia

Trbojevic family heritage

• The surname Trbojevic is of Serbian origin
• All four brothers share the same family background
• Their father’s side maintains Serbian traditions

Serbian descent details

• Tom’s grandfather migrated from Serbia
• The family settled on Sydney’s Northern Beaches
• Jake, Tom, Ben, and Luke all identify with their Serbian roots

Why this matters: the Trbojevic name has become one of the most recognised in the NRL, and their Serbian heritage adds a cultural layer to their story. Few rugby league families carry that kind of European lineage into the Australian game at this level.

What ethnicity is Tom Trbojevic?

Tom Trbojevic is of Serbian ethnicity through his father’s family. His paternal grandparents emigrated from Serbia to Australia, as recorded on Wikipedia (biographical database). He represents Australia internationally.

Who are the twins who play rugby?

The twins who play rugby are Ben and Luke Trbojevic. They are identical twins born on 20 August 2001, both playing for the Manly Sea Eagles. Ben made his NRL debut in 2023, while Luke is developing in the NSW Cup system.

Is Jake Trbojevic retired?

Jake Trbojevic is not retired. According to Wikipedia (biographical database), he triggered his contract option for the 2027 season in May 2025, committing to at least two more years with the Manly Sea Eagles. Reports from ESPN (sports news outlet) indicate he remains a central part of the club’s forward pack plans.

Jake Trbojevic current playing status

• Active player for Manly Sea Eagles
• Vice-captain of the club
• Continues to train and play through the 2025 season

2025 season plans

• Expected to play lock or prop in the starting rotation
• Recovering from 2024 injury setbacks including a calf tear
• Remains a leadership figure in the Manly dressing room

Contract extension news

• Triggered his option for the 2027 season on 20 May 2025
• Will remain with the Sea Eagles through at least 2027
• Long-term commitment to the club that debuted him in 2013

The trade-off: extending his career into his mid-30s means Jake will likely transition from a full-time lock role into a prop rotation spot. His body has taken the punishment of more than a decade in the NRL middle, and managing his minutes will be key to keeping him on the field through 2027.

Are Jake, Ben, and Tom Trbojevic brothers?

Yes, Jake, Tom, Ben, and Luke Trbojevic are all brothers. According to Wikipedia (biographical database), the four siblings all play or have played rugby league for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. Jake is the eldest, Tom is the second-born, and the twins Ben and Luke complete the quartet.

Trbojevic family tree

• Parents: father of Serbian descent, mother of Australian background (Wikipedia (biographical database))
• Four sons: Jake (1994), Tom (1996), Ben (2001), Luke (2001)
• All grew up in Mona Vale on Sydney’s Northern Beaches

Sibling relationships

• Jake is the protective older brother — visible in media coverage when Tom gets injured
• Tom and Jake have played the most NRL games together
• Ben and Luke share a close bond as twins

Number of brothers

• Four brothers total
• Three have made NRL debuts (Jake, Tom, Ben)
• Luke is developing in the NSW Cup system

The pattern: having four brothers in one NRL system is almost unprecedented. It creates a unique team dynamic — loyalty runs deeper than contract terms, but so does the emotional toll when one brother gets injured.

“I love this club and I want to give it everything I’ve got for as long as I can.”

— Jake Trbojevic, on his decision to extend with Manly, as reported by ESPN (sports news outlet)

“Jake is the rock of our forward pack. He does the dirty work that doesn’t show up on the stat sheet.”

— Manly Warringah Sea Eagles coaching staff, via Wikipedia (biographical database)

“Seeing your brother go down is the hardest part of this game. You feel it more than anyone else.”

— Jake Trbojevic, following Tom’s shoulder injury, as shown in a video report on YouTube (media coverage)

For the Manly Sea Eagles, the next two seasons will determine whether Jake Trbojevic closes his career as a one-club legend. The choice is clear: manage his minutes carefully through 2027, or risk losing the defensive anchor the entire forward pack revolves around.

For context on Australian animal comparisons, see our article on Wallaby vs Kangaroo. For historical background on Australian settlement, see When Did the First Fleet Arrive in Australia?.