Haumole Olakau’atu was chosen to lead Tonga’s Sipi Tau for the first time before the match against England in Perth last weekend.
The honour was just recognition for the Manly forward’s development as a leader over the past few seasons. But several Tonga players couldn’t hide their concern before the ceremony – because Olakau’atu had botched the words during rehearsals all week.
“He must have stuffed it up three or four times – we were nervous going into the game,” Tongan teammate Isaiya Katoa said.
“He said the wrong words at the wrong time. He definitely needed a few takes. We started giving him some slack for stuffing it up.
“But come game day, he nailed every single part.”
Olakau’atu was overcome with emotion as he led the traditional pre-match performance, viewed as the highest honour that can be bestowed on a Tongan player.
Come Friday night, Olakau’atu’s friends and family will watch him lead the Sipi Tau for the first time, against Lebanon at CommBank Stadium – the Parramatta venue just down the road from where he grew up and began playing league, as a winger for Fairfield United.
Reminded of his blunders in Sipi Tau rehearsals, Olakau’atu laughed and told this masthead: “I stuffed it up a couple of times. Then the one time we had to do it seriously, at the captain’s run, I stuffed it again.
“The boys were going after me. There were so many nerves. But I took my time against England, and tried to be present. You’re trying to be present, but you’re also trying not to stuff it up, and remembering what to say next.
“Overall it was a mad feeling. I was proud of myself, and proud of the boys for trusting me to lead them out with the Sipi Tau.”
Former Canberra and South Sydney forward Siliva Havili led the Sipi Taufor about a decade before Sea Eagles and NSW Origin enforcer Olakau’atu stepped up.
Havili was one of the first to message Olakau’atu after the 30-12 win over England at HBF Park.
Olakau’atu said he was always proud to wear the NSW Origin jersey and represent his western Sydney roots, while the Tonga games were a nod to his family, “especially my parents, who made so many sacrifices for me to be where I am today”.
Coach Kristian Woolf included Olakau’atu in his 2022 World Cup squad but said that in the four years since then, the 28-year-old had become a different person, player and leader.
“It’s a big deal to lead the Sipi Tau, it’s a real honour, and I was really proud of Haumole for putting his hand up to do it,” Woolf said.
“I think it’s a real show of his confidence in himself as a leader. It’s certainly not something the group take lightly.
“I’ve seen plenty of practice runs, I’ve seen plenty of errors over the years. There were a few mistakes during the week, but I always thought he was going to nail it.”
Fellow Manly and Tonga favourite John Hopoate, who has been in camp with the Pacific nation, coached a teenage Olakau’atu – even winning a local under-16s premiership with him playing on the wing.
“He was a good player, but he wasn’t a standout – now, he’s a freak,” Hopoate said. “But I could see him captaining Tonga one day. You have Isaiya Katoa there [as the next captain], but if he’s injured, Haumole is the next one in line.”
Olakau’atu will start on the right against the Cedars, with Kulikefu Finefeuiaki on the left edge and a pack that features Jason Taumalolo, Stefano Utoikamanu and Addin Fonua-Blake.
Roosters back-rower Salesi Foketi starts at hooker a second week, but Katoa will skip the game to recover from an ankle injury, and return for next Sunday’s Pacific blockbuster against Samoa.