Haumole Olakau’atu looks to have all but secured his spot in Laurie Daley’s NSW Blues side for Game 1 after a man-of-the-match performance in Manly’s 46-18 win over the Tigers.
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Olakau’atu was a handful all afternoon, finishing with 203 run metres, including 90 post-contact, to go with eight tackle busts, three linebreaks, two try assists and one try.
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“I think the Blues are kidding if they don’t pick him… what else does he have to do to be selected?” teammate Jamal Fogarty told Fox League post-game.
“He’s been there before and the last six weeks he’s been destructive.”
The Sea Eagles moved up inside the top four with the win, which was the sixth in their last seven games, with their only loss coming in tight fasion to the ladder-leading Panthers.
The Tigers, meanwhile, continue to slide down the ladder after a third-straight loss and have now conceded 44 points or more in all three of those games.
It will be disappointing for coach Benji Marshall, who was making no excuses last week after the loss to Melbourne despite a mounting injury toll.
The carnage continued on Saturday with Taylan May suffering what looked to be a re-aggravation of his previous shoulder injury.
While he will have to go for scans, Marshall said in his post-game press conference that there are fears it is dislocated and he will be out for the season.
Jock Madden, meanwhile, looked in discomfort late with a potential hamstring issue with Marshall confirming the playmaker will also have to undergo scans.
Jake Trbo backs Haumole for Blues | 08:04
PICK ME, LAURIE
Manly superstar Haumole Olakau’atu has surely secured a place in the NSW second row.
The Manly powerhouse set up one try for Clayton Faulalo in the opening stanza and then scored another of his own in the second half as he crashed over the top of two defenders.
At times, he was unstoppable. Midway through the second half, he surged through a gaping hole and Tigers fullback Sunia Turuva was forced to throw his entire body at the Manly star’s legs to bring him to ground.
Olakau’atu started the weekend in a logjam of contenders for one of the two starting spots in the NSW second row.
After his performance on Saturday afternoon, he surely has one of the two second row spots in his keeping as Daley prepares to name his side for Origin I on Monday morning.
No one could stop the second rower.Source: FOX SPORTS
KING KOULA
Olakau’atu wasn’t the only Origin aspirant to press his claims. There’s been plenty of talk about the NSW centres leading up to the opening game of the Origin series but not many – if any – are playing better than Manly’s Tolu Koula at the moment.
The speed machine lit up Suncorp Stadium on Saturday afternoon with one of the tries of the season, burning and bumping off five Tigers defenders in the fourth minute as he kicked off the scoring.
Koula had no right to score when he received the ball but he beat Kai Pearce-Paul, Sunia Turuva, Heath Mason, Jock Madden and Terrell May on a weaving run to the line.
It was brilliant stuff from the Sea Eagles flyer, who has been a handful for opponents all season. The Tigers had no answer to his cocktail of power and pace, vindicating Foran’s decision to return him to the centres after initially playing him at fullback when Tom Trbojevic was sidelined.
While Koula has been starring in the centres, Faulalo has made the No.1 jersey his own and had a whale of a game – he ran for more than 200 metres, scored a try and had a try assist and four line break assists.
Koula scores a try. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
LEHI DRAMA
The Sea Eagles big win was blighted by an incident in the 16th minute which may have repercussions for winger Lehi Hopoate.
Hopoate, who became the first player since Manly legend Brett Stewart to score a try in seven consecutive games when he crossed in the opening half, was placed on report after bumping into the back of referee Grant Atkins while chasing through a bomb.
Atkins hit the deck after Hopoate appeared to put both hands on his back.
Hopoate couldn’t stay out of the action. Early in the second half, he was taken form the field for a head injury assessment after being on the receiving end of a head slam from Tigers centre Patrick Herbert.
Herbert was placed on report. Hopoate returned to play but may face a stint on the sidelines as the match review committee prepares to review footage of the clash with Atkins.
Manly MONSTER timid Tigers | 02:26
TIGERS’ DEFENSIVE WOES
The Wests Tigers started the season in flying fashion, prompting some to suggest their finals drought was over.
After this loss, they remain in the top eight but coach Benji Marshall must be starting to get concerned.
This marks three consecutive losses, and the club has now conceded 142 points in the last three weeks.
Injuries have played a part – they had a handful of their biggest names missing on Saturday including Adam Doueihi, Api Koroisau, Haemasi Makasini, Samuela Fainu, Jahream Bula and Alex Twal.
Even so, there was no excuse for the way they fell off tackles against the inspired Sea Eagles. At times, it was like shelling peas for Manly.
The Tigers have plenty to fix. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
JUDICIARY WATCH
Terrell May was placed on report for high contact in the 12th minute. He has no prior charges in his career and earned only a fine.
Tigers teammate Patrick Herbert was also placed on report for a grapple tackle in the 16th minute and 45th minute for a head slam. He had a charge in Round 7 for a chicken wing and earned himself a two-game ban with an early guilty plea.
The only other Tiger to be placed on report was Jock Madden. He was pinged for a high tackle in the 31st minute and has no prior charges in his career, earning only a fine.
Lehi Hopoate was placed on report for contacting the referee in the 16th minute, although he has no prior chargers in his NRL career.
The Sea Eagles winger was handed a one-game ban.
STAT ATTACK (via Fox Lab)
Wests Tigers have conceded 142 points in the past three games
Manly has now won six of seven under Kieran Foran; conceded 18 points or less in all seven games
First time since 2008 Sea Eagles have allowed 18 points or less in seven straight games
Sea Eagles first win at Suncorp Stadium since Round 23, 2021 – ending a five game losing run
14 linebreaks for Manly compared to Wests Tigers 4 – Sea Eagles most in a game since a 54-12 win over Wests Tigers in 2023 (16)
Sea Eagles led 18-0 after 20 minutes thanks to 63 percent possession, 5 linebreaks to nil and 14 tackles to 0 in the opposition half
Lehi Hopoate scored in his seventh straight game – Brett Stewart in 2006 was the last Sea Eagle to score in seven straight
Jason Saab crosses for his fifth career hat-trick
Clayton Faulalo was outstanding in place of Tom Trbojevic for Manly with 1 try, 2 try assists, 1 linebreak and 4 linebreak assists, 21 runs for 219 metres
Fox Lab POTM
Haumole Olakau’atu couldn’t do anymore for a spot in Laurie Daley’s NSW side for the opening Origin with an all-round display – 1 try, 3 linebreaks, 1 try assist, 17 runs for 203 metres with 90 post contact metres and 8 tackle busts and 21 tackles without a miss
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