Haumole Olakau’atu has vowed to repay his Manly teammates when he returns to the field this weekend after serving his Origin III fight ban.
The Sea Eagles will be fresh from the bye round and boosted by the return of back-rower Olakau’atu for Saturday’s trip to Canberra.
Manly forward Haumole Olakau’atu is back from his Origin ban.Credit: Getty
Olakau’atu was hit with a two-match suspension for involving himself in a melee at Suncorp Stadium dressed in a suit jacket and chinos as the Blues’ 19th man. He was ordered from the bench during the game and banned from entering the field to celebrate after full-time.
Olakau’atu declared after the game he was simply “helping a brother out” after seeing Blues winger Brian To’o surrounded by up to 10 Queenslanders.
However, the Tongan international said this week he regretted the fact his Origin punishment had hurt his club and their push for a finals berth.
“That whole Origin camp, we spoke about brotherhood and having that connection and bond between each other, so it was an instinct thing for me,” Olakau’atu said.
State of Origin melee: NSW nineteenth man Haumole Olakau’atu was dismissed from the Suncorp Stadium sideline after getting himself involved in a melee despite not playing.Credit: Nine
“To see the boys being out-numbered that night, I wanted to step in and help.
“Thinking back to it now, it wasn’t the wisest decision. A lot of people suffered from the choice I made. I let my club down. If I had the time back, I only wish I could have handled it better – [I would not] step in at all.
“Everything from here on in is all about Manly. I’ll try to repay them for what they’ve suffered [from my absence] the past few weeks.”
Olakau’atu said Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold had told him to take the early plea and that he used the enforced break to get himself physically and mentally fresh for the run home to September.
Seibold said of Olakau’atu returning to play outside skipper Daly Cherry-Evans on the right edge: “He’s been really consistent for us for 18 months now, he’s played for Tonga, he’s played for NSW, he’s got his future sorted here for a long time, so we know what weapons he has – he’s a big in.
“Physically and mentally he feels fresh and ready to play. But you need to be ready to perform, not just play, and that’s the opportunity Haumole has got.”
Manly also welcome the return of Lachlan Croker, a former Raider, and rookie winger Lehi Hopoate, who has overcome an eye socket injury.
Meanwhile, Blayke Brailey has been named to start at halfback for Cronulla ahead of Friday’s trip to the Gold Coast. Braydon Trindall suffered a hamstring injury on the weekend and was not named in the squad.
Cody Walker (calf) returns for South Sydney’s clash with Melbourne, Adam Doueihi returns to the centres for Justin Olam, who is booked in for knee surgery, while the Broncos have turned to Josh Rogers and Xavier Willison to replace Ezra Mam (ankle) and Payne Haas (foot) against the Cowboys.
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