From Livewire to Sensation: The Remarkable Rise of ‘Freak’ Tolu Koula Amidst Tom Trbojevic’s Setback

When Tom Trbojevic exited the field in the 13th minute during Manly’s resounding win over the Cowboys, many Sea Eagles fans might have feared the end of an impressive streak under interim coach Kieran Foran.

However, the fullback’s eighth hamstring injury in eight seasons served as a rallying call for Manly’s backline, which surged to assertiveness against their opponents.

Having already coped well with Trbojevic’s previous absence due to a head knock against the Dolphins, the Sea Eagles appeared to expertly repeat that performance.

They registered the first try just four minutes into the match thanks to Lehi Hopoate, shortly before Trbojevic had to leave the game. The team then compounded the opposition’s troubles by adding three more tries before halftime, leaving the Cowboys scoreless in the second half with brilliant efforts from Taniela Paseka and Luke Brooks.

In Trbojevic’s absence, Tolu Koula transitioned to fullback while fellow young talent Clayton Faulalo was brought in from the bench to play at centre.

Despite the significant loss of Trbojevic, Manly’s offensive efforts remained unaffected; in fact, his injury opened the door for Koula to showcase his impressive skills once again, reinforcing the club’s high opinion of him. Over the past year, he’s evolved from a promising centre into a genuine star, sweeping the club’s major accolades in 2025 and securing a lucrative contract extension that will see him with the Sea Eagles until the conclusion of the 2030 season.

This season has seen Koula excel consistently, almost single-handedly propelling the Sea Eagles to a victory against the Raiders in round one after orchestrating an incredible comeback that led the match into golden point. On Friday evening, he demonstrated his elite ability on both offence and defence, meeting the lofty standards previously established by Trbojevic.

With the ball, Koula was dynamic, but his defensive displays were truly eye-catching. He executed two crucial try-saving tackles, including a brilliant cover defence that forced Braiden Burns over the sideline when it looked like the Cowboys winger was set to score in the corner.

In what could be considered the game’s turning point, Koula produced a sensational play to prevent front-rower Thomas Mikaele from scoring, appearing out of nowhere to nudge the ball loose just as Mikaele was about to cross the line. This pivotal moment was soon followed by a long-range try from Manly, pushing their lead to 16 points before halftime.

Koula’s miraculous play thwarted Mikaele’s opportunity to score, marking Mikaele’s first try in 93 NRL appearances and leading to Manly’s swift response with yet another score just before halftime, courtesy of Hopoate assisting Brandon Wakeham, which extended their lead to 22-6.

“He’s incredible,” teammate Reuben Garrick stated after the match, praising Koula.

“A natural athlete, he has improved consistently throughout his NRL career. That try save was crucial in the game.

“We capitalised and scored right after. He’s performing exceptionally well.”

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Koula has certainly been a highlight for the Sea Eagles this year, validating the five-year extension the club granted him in the off-season, with a contract worth nearly $1 million per season.

He was named the Sea Eagles’ player of the year in 2025, and expectations are high for the son of Tongan Olympians. His father competed in the 100m at the Barcelona, Atlanta, and Sydney Games, while his mother Ana excelled as a long jumper and hurdler.

Koula himself clocked an impressive 10.58 seconds in the 100m during high school.

Week in and week out, Koula has been a standout performer this season. Following his remarkable finish in round one, NRL legend Greg Alexander noted that the game plan for Manly seemed to become simply, ‘let’s get the ball to Tolu’.

“Manly’s strategy turned into getting the ball to Tolu and seeing if he could create something. He nearly turned the game entirely on its head,” Alexander remarked during the Fox League commentary.

“Last year was impressive for him. He took home all of Manly’s awards … he has emerged as one of the premier talents in the NRL, and his performance on Saturday night firmly established that.”

Koula’s defensive prowess against the Cowboys not only saved the team at critical junctures but also reinforced Manly’s newfound strength in their defensive setup.

Despite the sacking of Anthony Seibold following a shaky start to the season, as the team let critical leads slip in their opening three matches, Manly has shown resilience and strength under Foran.

In the three matches since, they’ve finished strongly, conceding just 42 points collectively. Even without Trbojevic, the Sea Eagles managed to blank the Cowboys in the second half, even in the sweltering conditions of Townsville.

“A solid performance with a 22-6 scoreline in the first half and 16-0 in the second half,” Phil Gould remarked on Nine’s coverage.

“Defensively, holding the Cowboys to just six points in their backyard is a tremendous accomplishment. Given Trbojevic’s early exit, they remained unfazed. Every player contributed. Manly is clearly on a roll.”