‘I’ve definitely got a point to prove’: Jeremiah Nanai’s mission to clip Manly Sea Eagles
Jeremiah Nanai is determined not to repeat his round 1 nightmare when he gets a second chance against Haumole Olakau’atu and the Sea Eagles. Read the latest news from this week at Cowboys HQ.
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Cowboys star Jeremiah Nanai declared he has a point to prove when he gets a second chance to face the Sea Eagles on Saturday – the same team that saw him relegated to the Queensland Cup following a 42-12 drubbing in round 1.
Nanai missed three tackles and made one error before he was brutally axed by coach Todd Payten, sending a clear message to his squad that it doesn’t matter what you get paid if you don’t perform consistently.
The 22-year-old fought his way back into the NRL and has since recaptured his best form, scoring four tries in his last three appearances, and he said he was looking forward to playing Manly.
“We versed them in round 1 and I went back (to Q Cup), worked on a few things defensively and I’ve definitely got a point to prove this week,” Nanai said.
“I’m very excited and I’ll take on the challenge.”
Saturday’s game also doubles as Nanai’s final audition for State of Origin, coming face-to-face with anticipated Blues behemoth Haumole Olakau’atu.
Olakau’atu played the first two games of the 2024 Origin series before he was omitted from the side for the decider at Suncorp, but his tantalising form this year will surely see him called into Laurie Daley’s NSW squad.
Manly’s 196cm backrower took just three minutes to open the scoring in round 1, going on to break eight tackles over the course of the match as he terrorised North Queensland’s left-edge defence.
“They’ve got a strong attacking side on that left side there,” Nanai said.
“They’ve got a good second rower in Olakau’atu who runs the ball hard and runs some good leads so we’ve just got to do a good job on him and get some numbers around him.”
Cowboys captain Tom Dearden said his backrow partner on the left edge had dialled in on the attributes that make him one of the NRL’s most dangerous forwards.
“He’s been awesome since he’s come back. I think Jeremiah’s strength is he plays at such a high intensity and he’s so damaging when he does that,” Dearden said.
“I think the key for him is he’s found that in the last few weeks, and he’s been really consistent with that, and I’ve loved having him back in the side.
“I think he will (have a point to prove), a big thing for ‘Miah is he’s been working really hard on his defence and his efforts in defence, and think he’s improved that out of sight since round 1.
“He’ll be in for a big performance this weekend.”
COWBOYS STORY TOLD IN TOWNSVILLE TO HELP TACKLE EPILEPSY
The man behind the famous ‘Gabbatroopers’ at the Brisbane test and ‘The Wallys’ at State of Origin, Townsville’s Tony Holznagel, is bringing a new themed dress-up to the Cowboys game this weekend.
Eagle-eyed fans will spot as many as 50 supporters dressed as the character Woody from Toy Story – with a few North Queensland twists – to raise money and awareness for Epilepsy Queensland.
The idea, dubbed “Cowboy Story’, came about when Cowboys legend Jake Granville floated the idea to Holznagel at a school pick-up.
“It all started because of Jake Granville. His daughter went to the same class as my son, so we were always at school pick-up,” Holznagel said.
“When he saw the Gabbatroopers and the Wallys and so forth, he was like, ‘you’ve got to make one for the Cowboys, we need one.’
“So that’s what kick-started it, Jake Granville was the connection to the club, and then they reached out to make it happen.
“He’ll be sitting right in the middle of the group and also one of the other guys will be dressing up as Buzz Lightyear with the full kit with the plastic helmet and everything.”
Cowboys fans who want to get involved in the dress-up will have to wait until next year, but they can still get involved in a major raffle with a number of great rugby league prizes up for grabs.
“We’ve pulled together a raffle, which started with the Cowboys donating a team-signed jersey on the back of this event, and then all the other Queensland teams have now donated a jersey as well,” Holznagel said.
“So the Broncos, Dolphins, Titans, and also Matt Gillett got me a 2023 Maroons signed jersey that Wally Lewis has signed – because Wally is the ambassador for Epilepsy Queensland.”
People who want to enter the raffle can find out more information at: myimpact.epilepsyqueensland.com.au/the-wallys-2025
The Cowboys take on the Sea Eagles on Saturday at Queensland Country bank Stadium. Kick-off is at 5.30pm.
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Originally published as ‘I’ve definitely got a point to prove’: Jeremiah Nanai’s mission to clip Manly Sea Eagles
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