Haumole Olakau’atu is fast getting to the stage where NSW coach Michael Maguire will find it impossible not to give him a State of Origin jumper.
Olakau’atu was outstanding in Manly’s come-from-behind win over the Eels, breaking the line several times and getting away some smart offloads.
Had it not been for a couple of touches of class from the giant back-rower, it could have been a different story after Parra got off to a good start.
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The 25-year-old Olakau’atu is enjoying his best start to a season in the NRL and Anthony Seibold has brought a new consistency to his game.
Maguire is looking for fresh blood and the Manly menace certainly fits the bill on current form.
KNIGHTS FIND THEIR SAVING GRACE
Rookie fullback David Armstrong went a long way to saving the Knights’ season in his top grade debut against the Dolphins.
In a must-win game for Newcastle, the 23-year-old from Goondiwindi was outstanding, scoring a try, making several breaks and defending safely.
With marquee man Kalyn Ponga set to miss many weeks with a foot injury, the Knights’ season could have imploded if Armstrong didn’t adequately fill the void yesterday.
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But the fact he played so competently in his debut has proved a massive boost for the Knights and he was a key figure in the upset win over the disappointing Dolphins.
ORIGIN STAR LEAVING MADGE ‘VERY SCARED’
New Blues coach Maguire should be very scared of Cam Munster as the Origin series approaches.
Munster missed the early rounds of the season with a groin injury but hit top form in the 54-20 demolition of Souths on ANZAC night.
The classy five-eighth was superb, playing his best game of the year to date, scoring one try and creating four more for his team-mates.
Munster has now played four games in 2024 – with a 100 per cent success rate.
He also tends to play his best footy around the Origin period, which is just weeks away in a major boost for the Maroons.
STAR’S INCREDIBLE RETURN
Evening the scales for Munster, Payne Haas made an awesome return after a month out for the Broncos in a great sign for the Blues.
Although short of a gallop, Haas scored a barnstorming try and ran for 140 metres as the Broncos outclassed the Tigers in Campbelltown.
The big man was too hot to handle for the poor Tigers and once he gets some match fitness back, he will be an even greater force.
THE MOMENT THAT HAD TO BE SEEN TO BE BELIEVED
League is a tough enough game as it is – there is no need for cheap shots.
And the one Souths winger Taane Milne came up with in the final minute of his team’s capitulation to the Storm on Thursday night was as bad as anything I’ve seen for a long time.
With the clock ticking down, Storm star Cam Munster was held by three defenders and submitting in the tackle.
That’s when Milne decided to dive in at full speed at his knees in a dog shot that could have broken Munster’s leg.
It’s the reason that the NRL hit him with a possible two-week ban and he’s probably lucky they didn’t add two more for bad sportmanship and stupidity.
ROOSTERS MUST MOVE ON WALKER
Sam Walker has become as important to the Roosters as Nathan Cleary is to Penrith or Jahrome Hughes to the Storm.
The clever halfback was missing against the Storm last week and the Roosters’ attack looked very flat.
But the mighty mite returned against the Dragons on ANZAC Day and created complete mayhem for the defence.
Walker scored a try, created three more and kicked 10 goals from 10 attempts as the Roosters racked up a slick 60-18 win.
With class halfbacks in short supply in the NRL at the moment, look for the Roosters to tie Walker up on a long-term deal before rival clubs get a chance to have a nip at him.
AWKWARD CHAT THAT BECKONS FOR FLANAGAN
Dragons coach Shane Flanagan may have an awkward conversation with his halves – son Kyle and Ben Hunt – this week.
The pair missed an alarming 12 tackles between them as the Dragons were humbled by the Roosters 60-18 on ANZAC Day, many of which led to tries.
That’s a scary number and rival coaches are certain to target the two little men in coming weeks in defence as a result.
Coaching your son is never easy at any level – and it will be a test of Flanagan senior’s man-management skills as the Dragons attempt to recover from that savage mauling.
TITANS STAR MADE OF ‘REAL ORIGIN STUFF’
Titans fullback AJ Brimson played the final game of last year’s State of Origin when superstar Reece Walsh was unavailable – and he is making it impossible for the Maroons to leave him out as this season’s series approaches.
Walsh will be the first man picked at fullback, but Brimson, who led the Titans to their fighting 27-24 upset over the Warriors on ANZAC Day, is the ideal number 14.
Brimson brings x-factor and strike power from the bench and can play virtually anywhere in the backline.
After playing at centre and five-eighth already this season, he moved to fullback to replace the injured Jayden Campbell last Thursday and played superbly.
As well as scoring two tries, Brimson saved two more and ran for 183 metres – real Origin stuff.