Ahead of sudden-death semi-final, desperate Manly call on four kids Parramatta didn’t want
As the Sea Eagles lose more and more stars to injury the Silvertails will turn to four up and comers, all of whom were stolen from under arch rival Parramatta’s noses.
Sea Eagles
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sea Eagles. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LEAGUE CENTRAL: The fear and love of Wayne Bennett
CAMPO’S CORNER: Raw, uncut semi-final previews
They are the Manly Sea Eel-gles.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the three players Manly have rushed into first grade to overcome a horror injury toll were all pinched from the heart of Parramatta.
And three more Parramatta juniors will also run out for the Sea Eagles this Saturday night.
It’s the great Western Sydney heist.
Replacement players Tevita Funa, 21, Haumole Olakau’atu, 20, and Sean Keppie, 20, were Eels juniors — along with regular centre Moses Suli — before Manly came knocking.
Seemingly unwanted, the three shifted from Sydney’s west to the northern beaches and will be called into action for the elimination final against Cronulla at Lottoland.
Another replacement, Tony Williams (Cabramatta), is also an Eels junior as is hooker Manase Fainu (Westmead).
Stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round Live & On-Demand on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Get your 14 day free trial.
Funa, Olakau’atu, Keppie, Suli and Williams were named to cover for injured stars Tom Trbojevic (pectoral), Curtis Sironen (foot), Joel Thompson (forearm), Taniela Paseka (knee) and suspended Marty Taupau.
Funa will make his NRL debut against Cronulla, as will Olakau’atu. Keppie has played just one game.
“Haumole, Tevita, Manase and Moses Suli all played for Fairfield United,” Manly recruiter Scott Fulton said. “I got them over as juniors in the under 15s Harold Matthews.
“Tevita came in 2016. He got dropped by Parramatta and we picked him up because we liked him. The same with Manase. He didn’t get picked for Harold Matthews at Parramatta.
“Haumole was also in that Fairfield side but he hadn’t played in any reps. Tevita’s dad rang me and said Haumole had been going to training at the end of 2016.
“Tevita’s dad asked whether Haumole could train with the boys and I said: ‘Sweet, no problem’. We gave him half a trial against St George and signed him for three years.
“I saw Keppie play in Parramatta’s juniors from under-16s onwards. He played Australian Schoolboys. We always had a fair wrap on him and Parramatta weren’t that keen on him so I jumped straight in and grabbed him.
“I think he’s a really good player. In 2017, Keppie was playing for Parramatta against Manly in the under-20s grand final. I signed him after that. Keppie was from Narellan but played in the Parramatta juniors.”
Former Manly winger John Hopoate coached that Fairfield United side, with his son, Bonny, a team member.
Funa is a centre, Haumole an edge backrower and Keppie a front-rower. Despite their inexperience, leading players have backed the kids to shine.
“We’ve got great depth here and everyone is putting in at training,” Manly fullback Brendan Elliot said.
LISTEN! Matty Johns, Brett Finch and Paul Kent have a look at the first week of the finals, Ben Ikin’s run-in with Sticky, why the Titans are such a mess and Russell Crowe’s book of feuds.
Manly are confident Brad Parker (concussion) and second-rower Jack Gosiewski (knee) will be cleared to play.
With Taupau and Addin Fonua-Blake taking quick play-the-balls, hookers Apisai Koroisau and Fainu have been dangerous running from dummy-half. But with Taupau and chief support player Tom Trbojevic injured, Koroisau said Manly might need to play around the Sharks rather more than directly through the middle.
“Marty is a massive aspect of our team and he does so much great work and it’s going to be hard to replace,” Koroisau said.
“In terms of the quick play-the-balls, we’re just going to have to find different ways around it.
“Instead of trying to go over them, we might have to try and go around them a bit - maybe even just mix it up with our plays.
“You can’t replace Marty Taupau. We’re going to have to try and buy another week so he comes back.”