Haumole Olakau’atu’s incredible journey to State of Origin: Evading immigration, living illegally, supporting Maroons
In an exclusive one-on-one, Haumole Olakau’atu opens up about his extraordinary path to a Blues debut, including living in Sydney illegally, evading immigration, getting discovered in a footy carpark and more.
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Haumole Olakau’atu’s family spent the first 10 years of his life evading Australian immigration officials.
The giant NSW back-rower made the stunning admission he pulled on a Blues jersey for the first time on Tuesday, revealing how he defied incredible odds to make his State of Origin debut when the series kicks off at Accor Stadium next Wednesday night.
Olakau’atu opened up about his extraordinary path to a Blues debut, which included living in Sydney illegally, constantly moving to avoid being caught, in a family that once supported the Maroons and being first discovered while sitting in a car watching a Manly under-20s training session as a teenager.
EVADING IMMIGRATION
Born in Guildford to Tongan parents, Olakau’atu almost never became a NSW Blue.
He almost never became an NRL player, a Sea Eagles star or a Tongan international.
Olakau’atu almost never became an Australian for that matter.
As he rubbed shoulders with his NSW teammates on Tuesday, Olakau’atu told this masthead how his parents spent the formative years of his life fearing that every time there was a knock at the door of their latest family home, an immigration officer would be standing on the other side.
“I’m Western Sydney and Guildford at heart. I was born and raised in Guildford. I grew up moving around in Western Sydney,” Olakau’atu said.
“My parents weren’t legal stayers here. We had to do a lot of moving around trying to get away from immigration so we wouldn’t get in trouble.
“But then at the age of 10, I was lucky enough to get my papers and fortunate enough to become an Australian citizen.”
Now 25, Olakau’atu remembers growing up in Guildford “as a pretty tough time”, but it wasn’t until he was nine years old that he realised why life was so tough, and why he and his four siblings were constantly on the move.
He remembers moving around at least four times, but concedes it could have been more.
“My parents did everything they could to protect us from what was going on,” Olakau’atu said.
“It wasn’t until I was around nine, I kind of knew then what was happening and why we were always moving around from different houses.
“But it all worked out, they were fortunate enough to get their citizenship not long after I did.”
IN SEARCH OF A BETTER LIFE
Olakau’atu’s father first came to Australia in the last 1990s from Tonga in search of a better life, and to one day give his children the kind of opportunities he could only dream about.
“My parents, both mum and dad, are from Tonga,” Olakau’atu said.
“They came to Sydney and had me and my siblings. Dad came over initially looking for a job, and after a while he fell in love with the city, so he stayed.
“He tried convincing mum to join him from Tonga, but it took her some convincing.
“After a couple of months she finally flew to Australia as well, and not long after they had me.”
As Olakau’atu reveals, for the first time, his incredible journey to the Origin arena, there is no sign of the “scariest man in rugby league”, which is how his Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans once described the hulking 196cm, 113kg back-rower.
There are no signs of arrogance or ego, despite recently signing a deal worth $8 million to stay at Manly until the end of 2031.
Instead, he cuts a humble figure, who only last year was able to surprise his parents by buying them a new family home in Hinchinbrook.
After never having a stable home as a child, being able to buy his parents their forever home is a full-circle moment for Olakau’atu.
DISCOVERED IN A FOOTY CAR PARK
But it is a moment, like his citizenship, that could easily never have happened.
Despite his athletic exploits, Olakau’atu never considered NRL as a career.
“It took me a while to figure that out,” Olakau’atu said.
“At the age of 17, I was like ‘wow, I can actually do something here, I can achieve something’.
“Before that, I was playing for enjoyment and to fit in with the other boys.”
That was until a fortuitous car ride when he was 17 changed his life.
“I had decided to give league a rest at one point in my life. But I was actually doing a two-week pre-season for rugby union,” Olakau’atu said.
“But my close friend, (then Manly hooker) Manase Fainu called me one day and just asked if I wanted to come with him to under-20s training, just to keep him company on the drive over there (to Narrabeen).
“I told him ‘yeah, sweet. I’ll go.’
“So I did that for a few days with him, and then the 20s coach at the time, Wayne Lambkin, spotted me in the car and asked Manase if I wanted to have a crack or train with them.
“That’s when it all kicked off. I owe a lot to Wayne, he’s still the NSW Cup coach at Manly now so it’s good to have him around.”
SOCIAL MEDIA REDEMPTION
Next Wednesday night at Accor Stadium, will be another full-circle moment in Olakau’atu’s unique journey.
Two years ago, Olakau’atu raised eyebrows after declaring himself a Queensland supporter on social media.
He reposted a Fox League post of Queensland’s 16-10 game-one victory over NSW to his Instagram story, and captioned it “Been a Maroons since day dot”, with a shoosh emoji.
Before anyone questions his loyalty, Olakau’atu wants to make up for that faux pas the only way he knows how.
“It was just childish. I don’t know what I was thinking at the time,” Olakau’atu said.
“My old man was a Queensland supporter growing up. I didn’t really know football that much, so I grew up admiring the Maroons as well.
“I really hope the Blues fans can forgive me for that.
“If I have to prove myself to everyone in NSW, that I’m a true Blue then I will show them how much it means to me next Wednesday.”
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