Des Hasler’s endorsement of him as a State of Origin contender has lifted Haumole Olakau’atu to new heights, but it is a blue and gold snubbing that will be front of mind for the Sea Eagles second-rower when he steps out on Friday night.
Olakau’atu is one of several Parramatta juniors who have pulled on the maroon and white in recent times, with teammate Manase Fainu famously getting him a start by roping him into Manly-20s training from the carpark.
The Manly Sea Eagles take on the Brisbane Broncos in Magic Round of the 2022 NRL Premiership.
The Sea Eagles are still smarting from a 38-0 Magic Round shellacking at the hands of the Broncos that dropped them out of the top eight.
Olakau’atu’s five tackle-breaks were the most of any Sea Eagle in the heavy defeat, while his return from suspension is particularly timely given Blues back-rowers are dropping like flies just two weeks out before Brad Fittler names his squad for the State of Origin opener.
Aside from a NSW debut, Olakau’atu’s own motivations at Bankwest Stadium stretch back to his schoolboy days, when he couldn’t crack the Eels junior ranks and considered giving footy away.
“I’d like to put on some hits. We’ll see how it goes but games like this, I do take it personal,” he told The Herald. “I’d like to get one over them. There’s a lot of us junior boys and I love seeing all of us who didn’t make it at Parra here making it now.
Haumole Olakau’atu’s impressive rise has him in the NSW Origin frame.
Haumole Olakau’atu’s impressive rise has him in the NSW Origin frame. GETTY
“I just didn’t make it. None of us made it for Parra. I don’t know why, but I was trying my best in every trial game. Every year, I’d go up there for every trial and didn’t make it. I ended up backing off my footy for a bit and I lost hope.
“I thought, ‘I’ll just go play footy for fun, I’ll go work with my old man’. He’s a concreter and I actually love it. Us Tongans, we love concreting. But when I came up here and started 20s training, I had that hope again, I thought I could make it.”
Neither Tom Trbojevic nor Daly Cherry-Evans trained on Monday as they nurse corks, but the club is adamant both will take their place against Parramatta, while Josh Schuster is also firming to return from a calf injury.
Replies
Did we seriously let him go???
I don't get carried away with who we didn't sign as juniors some players come on later or don't show it earlier look at Greed the dogs didn't see it in him we did.
Some players kick on after been passed over Daniel Toopu is another one he became a top winger who has done it all but as a junior he was lazy
There was a period where Manly had access to Blacktown juniors. Btw there's a massive gap between junior development squads and getting picked for grade. Good for him he kicked on but it's not Parra's fault.
There are issues in our pathways system in both identifying and development future first graders. We simply aren't producing enough first grade quality players. The majority of our first grade team are recruits from other clubs and there isn't many, if any, future first graders in our reserve grade team.
I agree. Apart from Penrith and Cowboys which junior system is producing a heap of local talent?
I don't know about other people but i find Olakau'atu overrated, against Brisbane on Friday night his defence was lazy and had dreadful reads.
I think we will lose this game.
Manly will be coming out on fire to make up for the shit sandwich they served up last week....
It really comes down to what colour jersey we are wearing mate .
Always good to see some dope talking it up before a game. I'm sure Junior, Reg, Matto and Brown are really shitting themselves after reading this :)
O geez. He is in his 4th year at the Beagles and played against us twice last year.
Last year the media bet up that other ex junior eels and I think the year before the media mentioned some other Eels junior.
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