'That's our identity': Haumole gives Manly an A+ for 'D'

Haumole Olakau’atu’s push for a Blues Origin recall is building at exactly the right time, with the damaging back-rower leading Manly’s defensive resurgence under Kieran Foran.

With Origin squads to be announced following Magic Round, Olakau’atu has emerged as one of the NRL's form forwards during a red-hot month for the Sea Eagles.

After opening the year with three straight losses, Manly have turned their campaign around since Foran stepped into the coaching role six weeks ago, building their game on defence.

The transformation has been clear.

The Sea Eagles held ladder leaders Penrith to 18 points before dismantling premiers Brisbane 32-4 at Brookvale Oval, performances that have quickly re-established Manly into genuine premiership contenders.

“Since Foz has stepped in, that’s what he’s tried to instil into us, just go out there and focus on our 'D',” Olakau’atu said. 

“It’s what we have done really well in the last month or so, that’s our identity from now on.

“Our head coach, Foz, that’s what he prides himself on.”

Olakau’atu has become one of the key figures behind that shift.

Already regarded as one of the game’s most destructive edge forwards with ball in hand, the 27-year-old’s defensive intensity has taken his game to another level.

“He gives us that belief that we could be the best defensive team in the comp,” Olakau’atu said.

“Something we went off was winning the first two tackles and we showed that [against Brisbane].

“That’s our identity, and that’s how it should be every week.”

Olakau'atu made his Origin debut off the bench in 2024 and was part of the first two games of the series before dropping to 19th man for the decider, which the Blues won 14-4 at Suncorp Stadium.

In 2025 the Manly man was part of Laurie Daley's extended squad for Game One before making himself unavailable for Game Two due to the impending birth of his second child.

The buzz is growing for the 27-year-old to earn a Blues recall in 2026 but it's very much a club first mentality for Olakau'atu.

“We’ve got a huge game in Magic Round to worry about, so when the time comes, it comes,” he said.

Manly’s next challenge comes against a Wests Tigers side that produced the best start to a season in the club’s history before suffering back-to-back defeats heading into Round 11.

With both clubs sitting on five wins, the clash shapes as another major test of the defensive standards Foran has quickly built at Brookvale.