Haumole Olakau'atu(born 1 October 1998) is aTonga internationalrugby leaguefootballer who plays as asecond-rowforward for theManly-Warringah Sea Eaglesin theNational Rugby League(NRL).

Haumole Olakau'atu
Personal information
Born(1998-10-01)1 October 1998(age 25)
Guildford,New South Wales,Australia
Height196 cm (6 ft 5 in)
Weight112 kg (17 st 9 lb)
Playing information
PositionSecond-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019– Manly Sea Eagles 92 35 0 0 140
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2022 Tonga 5 0 0 0 0
2024 New South Wales 2 0 0 0 0
Source:[1]
As of 8 September 2024

Background

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Olakau'atu was born inGuildford, New South Wales,Australia, and is of Tongan descent.[2]

Olakau'atu played junior rugby league withBerala BearsandWentworthville Magpies.He later tried out for theParramattaSG Ball and Harold Matthews sides but was unsuccessful. Olakau'atu then was signed by Manly and played for the club in their 2017Holden Cuppremiership winning side against Parramatta.[3]

Playing career

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2019

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Olakau'atu made hisNRLdebut for Manly against theCronulla-Sutherland Sharksin week 1 of the finals of the2019 NRL season.[4][5] Olakau'atu was kept in the Manly team for the following week againstSouth Sydneyin which Manly lost 34-26 in the elimination semi-final atANZ Stadium.[6]

2020

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He made five appearances for Manly in the2020 NRL seasonas the club missed out on the finals finishing 13th on the table.[7]

2021

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In round 14 of the2021 NRL season,he scored two tries for Manly in a 50-18 victory over North Queensland.[8] He played 21 games for Manly in the2021 NRL seasonincluding the club's preliminary final loss againstSouth Sydney.[9]

2022

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Olakau'atu was one of seven players involved in theManly pride jersey player boycott.[10] He made a total of 21 appearances for Manly in the2022 NRL seasonscoring ten tries. Manly would finish the season in 11th place and missed out on the finals.[11]

2023

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In round 3 of the2023 NRL season,he scored two tries including the winner in Manly's 34-30 victory overParramatta.[12] In round 5, he scored a try and was later sent to the sin bin during Manly's 32-32 draw with Newcastle.[13] He played a total of 24 matches for Manly in the2023 NRL seasonand scored ten tries as the club finished 12th on the table and missed the finals.[14]

2024

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On 26 May, he was selected by New South Wales ahead of the2024 State of Origin series.[15]

References

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  1. ^Rugby League Project
  2. ^"It's all relative: Manly debutant ready to follow family into footy".Sydney Morning Herald Sport. 11 September 2019.
  3. ^"He's always been a gun".smh.au.
  4. ^"Finals Week 1 team announcements".NRL. 14 September 2019.
  5. ^"Under-strength Sea Eagles send Sharks packing".NRL.
  6. ^"South Sydney Rabbitohs beat Manly Sea Eagles 34-26 in NRL semi-final".ABC.
  7. ^O'Loughlin, Liam (26 October 2020)."NRL 2020 Season Review: How will your side fare next year?".Sporting News.Archivedfrom the original on 26 October 2020.
  8. ^"Cronulla Sharks pip Penrith Panthers 19-18, Manly Sea Eagles thrash North Queensland Cowboys 50-18".abc.net.au.
  9. ^"GLORY, GLORY: Souths march into the GF as Wayne masterminds Manly mauling".foxsports.au.
  10. ^"Seven Manly players to boycott NRL match over pride jersey".Sydney Morning Herald.25 July 2022.Retrieved26 July2022.
  11. ^"NRL 2022: Manly Sea Eagles season review".sportingnews.Retrieved7 October2022.
  12. ^"Manly Sea Eagles prevail 34-30 against Parramatta Eels to maintain unbeaten start to NRL season".abc.net.au.
  13. ^"Young talent time: Knights winger scores four as wild west shootout ends in a draw".smh.au.
  14. ^"The $800k call Seibold must make as Turbo hits NRL crossroads: Sea Eagles Brutal Review".foxsports.au.
  15. ^"Blues name six rookies, new captain for Origin opener".nrl.
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