Manly coach Kieran Foran has rallied around Haumole Olakau’atu after the back rower was stunningly axed by the Blues for State of Origin Game 2. The Sea Eagles enforcer had the most run metres of any NSW forward in the series opener and was expected to be named alongside Hudson Young in the back row again. However, Laurie Daley opted to replace him with Knights star Dylan Lucas, the 20th man for Game 1.
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The decision stunned much of the NRL world. Foran stated he was “extremely disappointed” by Daley’s choice. “I’m extremely disappointed for Haumole, and I wouldn’t want any other back rower in the game other than him,” Foran said. “He is a true professional, Haumole, and he will be a team player. He will do whatever is needed for his side and his state.”
Foran’s comments come as several theories emerged about the Manly star’s axing. Many pointed to the fact that he struggled with the intensity of Game 1, cramping from midway through the second half before he eventually had to be replaced. NRL legend James Maloney suggested that Daley wants his back rowers playing the full 80 minutes, so he can use interchanges on forwards and impact players off the bench. “Maybe it was with the speed of the game that he wants his back rowers to play the 80 minutes,” Maloney said on news.com.au’s Extended Bench. “Think of some of our good ones like Boyd Cordner that are just reliable as.”
NRL reporter David Riccio suggested on NRL360 that there were concerns about the back-rower’s effort areas in defence. “My understanding is it’s the effort areas off the ball and that when the Blues didn’t have the ball and were in defensive mode, the Queenslanders would go and attack his side of the field,” Riccio said. “If not at him, players around him before moving away and coming back to his side.”
Blues coach Laurie Daley did not give much away when asked why he dropped Olakau’atu for Dylan Lucas. “I just think we’ve got a number of good players,” he said. “Dylan’s in form. Haumole did nothing wrong. We just felt like for this game, it’s an opportunity to give Dyl a game. All our debutants in Game 1 when they came on changed the game for us so I’ve got no hesitation in promoting young guys. Haumole was unlucky, he does a lot of great things. But we just felt for Game 2 Dylan is in form, let’s give him an opportunity.”
Blues halfback Nathan Cleary said Olakau’atu had handled being demoted to 20th man. “He’s been great,” Cleary said. “It’s tough for someone like Haumole and he’s been in amazing form the whole year but his reaction to it has been unbelievable and I think that speaks to him as a man. It’s great to still have him in camp. He’s a great person to have around and he’s keeping his positivity high. It shows he still values the team.”
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