Sea Eagles star Tom Trbojevic is chasing a different kind of greatness in 2022

As the rain fell on Leichhardt Oval in front of a few thousand diehards, Tom Trbojevic tried to begin his second miracle.

Trbojevic wasn't looking to stretch out in the 28-4 trial win over Wests Tigers. There's no need to have too much skin in this game.

The Manly superstar played 40 minutes but still came up with some classy touches, including an assist for Brad Parker with a nice short ball and a quality offload in the lead-up to a Reuben Garrick try.

He also exploded onto an inside pass from Daly Cherry-Evans just before half-time, weaved past two more defenders and fired a pass out to his younger brother Ben, who put Christian Tuipulotu over to score in the corner.

«He's worked hard and the boys have worked hard when they needed to, to take it to another level, that's what it's all about. It's early days,» Manly coach Des Hasler said.

«The first half was tidy enough, if a bit scrappy in parts. We got through it injury free, which is the main thing. 

»Across the park there were some good performances. But it's only 40 minutes of footy, we can't get too carried away."

With apologies Des, when it comes to Trbojevic, it's hard to not get carried away. Because if really turning it on, you'd reckon the raindrops would have a hard time hitting him.

It's what we've come to expect from the Manly star, but in 2022 he will be chasing a different type of greatness.

Trbojevic's 2021 season brought comparisons to Jarryd Hayne in 2009, Todd Carney in 2010 and Ben Barba in 2012, but not to Johnathan Thurston's stellar 2015 campaign, or Cameron Smith's exemplary play through 2017.

The reason for this is simple: as good as Thurston and Smith were in those years, they were simply one brilliant season among many; the brightest jewel in a treasure