Haumole Olakau’atu is back from shoulder surgery and ready to make his mark for Manly.Credit: Wolter Peeters
“I went back to Tonga before Christmas, I hadn’t been there since 2012. My partner Ana, her parents still live there, and everywhere I went I was stopped; it was crazy,” Olakau’atu said.
“Kids would come up to me, and if I wasn’t being chased by kids, I was being chased by dogs. They’re ruthless over there.
“The people were all so happy. They’re passionate, they love rugby league, but don’t have much. It was pretty humbling to see the way they live and their environment. We’re so lucky to live in such a beautiful country here. It made me realise how I can’t take anything for granted.
“It was the same when seeing Eli. He will be OK, but that was another reminder how I need to rock up to work every day with a smile on my face.
“Not many people get to do the job we do. Yet it can be all taken away with the snap of a finger. I’m trying to live my life to the fullest.”
Katoa suffered three separate head knocks during a Test against New Zealand and underwent emergency surgery in an Auckland hospital to have fluid drained from his brain. The Storm have already ruled him out for the year, and there are no guarantees he will play again.
Olakau’atu grew up in Sydney’s western suburbs, and never played rugby league until a decade ago. He was asked to have a run after being spotted in the Manly car park while doubling as a chauffeur for good friend and former Sea Eagles hooker, Manase Fainu.
One of the first things Olakau’atu did a couple of years ago when he inked a long-term deal with the Sea Eagles was to buy his parents a house.
That might explain why Manly coach Anthony Seibold described Olakau’atu as “someone I respect immensely”.
“I’ve coached a lot of players over my career, and he’s someone who is right at the very top as far as the respect I’ve got for him as a person,” Seibold said.
“He’s really found his voice, he’s driving standards and making guys accountable.”
Haumole Olakau’atu in action last season.Credit: Getty Images
The Sea Eagles missed Olakau’atu last season, and what he normally does on both sides of the ball on the right edge. Losing towering prop Taniela Paseka was also impossible to ignore.
Olakau’atu dislocated his shoulder against the Gold Coast Titans, only to return six weeks later and do it again when trying to stop Canterbury’s Viliame Kikau.
He has worked hard over the off-season to the point he has recorded a few personal best times at training, including four minutes and 37 seconds for the 1.2km time trial.
How quickly he can gel with new halfback Jamal Fogarty will go a long way to the Sea Eagles enjoying early success.
The only NRL halfback he ever played with was Cherry-Evans. “We had great chemistry. ‘Chez’ [Cherry-Evans] knew when to give me early ball, we just knew each other’s style and gelled nicely,” Olakau’atu said.
“But it’s been great working with Jamal. It won’t take us long at all to click.”
Siebold added: “Chez’s weapons were looking up and reading the numbers, and knowing when to take the short side or the long side. Jamal’s strengths are he’s structured and plays really square.
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“We feel like Jamal’s weapons can help unlock Haumole. It’s a good, experienced right edge with Haumole, Jamal, Reuben Garrick and ‘Saaby’ [Jason Saab]. All of them have played more than 100 NRL games.”
Most of Manly’s big guns, including skipper Tom Trbojevic, will play next weekend in their second trial against South Sydney. Olakau’atu will be saved for the opening round against Canberra.
He cannot wait.
“Like I said, I want to play consistent footy, terrorise the opposition, play well for Manly, maybe NSW, Tonga – hopefully it’s a busy year,” he said.
