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Forward prospect signs with Dragons | 00:34
Sea Eagles star Haumole Olakau’atu has been promoted into the club’s leadership group alongside Daly Cherry-Evans, Jake Trbojevic and Tom Trbojevic ahead of the 2025 season.
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The 26-year-old’s progress as a leader over the past couple of years has impressed coach Anthony Seibold, who made the decision at the beginning of Manly’s pre-season.
“I’ve been around footy for a little while now, and I don’t know if I’ve seen a guy grow as much as Haumole has in that leadership space, on and off the field, like I’ve seen with him the past two seasons,” Seibold told the SMH.
“The biggest thing with leadership in my opinion is you know what you get from them; Haumole is reliable on the field and he’s reliable off it.”
Olakau’atu’s form in 2024 was good enough to earn him selection in the New South Wales squad, but his Blues experience was marred by an incident during Game III.
Despite not being in the Blues 17 that game, Olakau’atu was involved in a scuffle between Blues and Maroons players which spilled over the sideline.
Seibold and Olakau’atu both said the star edge forward learned a lot from that incident.
“I got a lot of backlash from fans and media, and while I realised I’d get hate, I also got a lot of support, including from ‘Seibs’ and the boys,” he said.
“When Seibs gave me the news (of being added to Manly’s leadership group), I was shocked at first, but once it sunk in, it was an honour. When Seibs told me he had mentioned it to ‘Chez’ (Cherry-Evans), Jake and Tom, and they were stoked about it, that only made me happier.”
Olakau’atu, who is under contract until the end of 2031, says it “would be a dream” to one day captain Manly.
SIVO’S BRUTAL SUPER LEAGUE INJURY
Scans have confirmed former Eels star Maika Sivo has suffered an ACL injury that will sideline him for the remainder of the 2025 Super League season.
Sivo departed the Eels at the end of last season to sign with the Leeds Rhinos on a three-year deal, reuniting him with his former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur.
Sivo suffered the injury in his second game for his new club, during the Rhinos’ pre-season win over Wigan.
He’ll now undergo surgery.
Maika Sivo being helped off the field by Rhinos staff.Source: FOX SPORTS“Our first thoughts are with Maika and we will all get round him and give him and his family our support,” Arthur said.
“Our medical team will make sure he has the best possible treatment to come back from the injury as soon as possible.
“Maika is a strong character and I am sure he will throw himself into his recovery to get back to his best.”
Sivo was granted an early release by the Eels from his contract for the 2025 season to link up with Leeds.
