Undeniably: Foran Champions Manly’s Rampant Star for Origin Recall

Manly’s interim coach Kieran Foran has expressed his strong support for Haumole Olakau’atu’s return to the State of Origin following a standout performance against the Eels on Sunday.

Olakau’atu’s last appearance for the Blues was during the second game of the 2024 series under coach Michael Maguire. He was named in the reserves for the opening game last year but did not make the final cut.

The second-rower is set to compete with the likes of Hudson Young, Angus Crichton, Jacob Preston, and Liam Martin for a place in the Blues’ backrow, but Foran remains optimistic about his prospects.

“Absolutely, he deserves another shot. In my view, I can’t see anyone who excels in his position more than he does,” the interim coach stated.

“There are some exceptional back-rowers in our game, without a doubt. I’ve been around a while, but Haumole is a unique talent.

“So in my opinion, it’s a definite yes. Although, I’m not involved in the selection process; that’s up to them.”

Olakau’atu was a powerhouse against the Eels, racking up 226 run metres—the highest of the match—and registering nine tackle breaks. Additionally, he demonstrated impressive play-the-ball speed, second only to his teammate Jake Trbojevic.

Throughout Manly’s seven matches thus far, Olakau’atu has only fallen below 100 metres in two games, both of which occurred earlier in the season under former coach Anthony Seibold.

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Since Foran assumed the coaching role, Olakau’atu has stepped up his game, consistently exceeding 177 metres in his performances.

“He’s been outstanding all year. Haumole is an extraordinary player. I can’t recommend him highly enough,” Foran remarked.

“I truly believe his potential is limitless. He possesses qualities that very few players have, which is evident in his performances.

“He just needs to maintain his current form. When he’s carrying the footy like that and attacking the game defensively, we stand a good chance of winning.”

“His current performances are significant, and we absolutely appreciate what he’s bringing to the team.”

Foran, who shared the field with Olakau’atu, noted that the player now exhibits a greater level of maturity in his game.

“Haumole has been progressing consistently. He’s evolved significantly from the player we saw four or five years ago when he started. Each year, he continues to refine his skills, and now he’s playing with a genuine sense of maturity,” he remarked.

“You can see he’s a back-rower around the age of 27, with roughly 115 games under his belt. He’s likely come to understand just how impactful he can be, and it all comes down to fostering that internal confidence.”

“He’s incredibly humble and doesn’t seek out external recognition or the trappings that come with it. He just needs to acknowledge how brilliant he can be.”

“He’s playing with that mindset. If he keeps this up for us, we could be in for some serious success.”