Kieran Foran’s priceless advice for Manly’s demolition man Haumole Olakau’atu
Manly caretaker coach Kieran Foran had a simple message for Thursday’s man of the match Haumole Olakau’atu.
“It gave me the green light to play freely, do what I do best, which is run the ball and get involved in the game early,” said Olakau’atu, a Sea Eagles standout. Shocking 52-18 win over Dolphins.
“I felt like I didn’t raise my hand [the opening three games]. Maybe it was due to a lack of contact and a trust issue with my shoulder.
“But ‘Foz’ [Foran] He told me he knew how I played, what I was good at, and what I did best.
“It was one of the best performances of my career.
“Foz was a big reason for the win. I won’t take anything away from ‘Seibs’.” [former coach Anthony Seibold]but Foz played with half the boys there, now he coaches Manly. “This was a special moment for him and his family and we wanted to perform well for him, our club and the community.”
Foran couldn’t have asked for a better start to his coaching career.
He was appointed on an interim basis a day later, on Saturday. Seibold was fired after just three games. One can only imagine the mixed emotions Seibold felt as he watched the same team tear apart an undisciplined Dolphins.
Olakau’atu made 23 runs over nearly 250 meters in a breathtaking, State of Origin-like effort down the right-hand sideline as the three Trbojevic brothers, Tom, Jake and Ben, put in outstanding performances.
He took a few tries and chuckled when Kodi Nikorima was punished for throwing his bot, “I didn’t even know that was a thing.”
Intervention in Olakau’atu shoulder surgery He said in the middle of last year that he was more than physically ready to start the season, even though he did not take part in trials. He also knew it would take time to form a combination with halfback Jamal Fogarty after many years of playing outside Daly Cherry-Evans.
As Foran said of Olakau’atu when he arrived back in Sydney on Friday: “His involvement has been first class. He’s a total attacking weapon for us. We’ve got to find a way to get him the football and get him involved as much as we can. He’s got a lot to offer.”
“We haven’t made many changes to the team,” Foran said. “It was more about their mentality. They were preparing for a performance like this. They put in a brave performance against the Roosters [last Thursday]”They couldn’t do it long enough and it all happened on Thursday night.”
A few tries appeared to come from set plays initiated by Foran; these included Reuben Garrick steaming and pulling back downfield to score, and Luke Brooks being ejected early on a Fogarty hit. But Foran said: “These were things the children found while escaping.”
Jason Saab missed the big win due to suspension but is expected to return immediately in place of Clayton Faulalo against the Dragons.
