NRL 2021: Matt Ikuvalu opens up about being a fringe Roosters player
Matt Ikuvalu says being an 18th man is a ‘weird experience’, constantly not knowing if or when you’ll play – but it’s helping the Rooster live his NRL dream. He speaks to Nick Walshaw.
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Matt Ikuvalu didn’t know the elbow had dislocated until he saw it.
But why would he?
For a start, this North Sydney No.2 certainly hadn’t grabbed at the arm of Haumole Olakau’atu, that Blacktown prop who now lay not only sprawled out on the grass, but in the type of agony that comes with having your right limb twist grotesquely enough to face backwards.
Which was rough, definitely.
With several Bears players, almost in sync, quickly turning their heads from the crime scene.
But Ikuvalu?
All he had done with 20 minutes remaining in this year’s NSW Cup opener was rise quickly to his feet and try to play the ball.
Sure, he may have grabbed at his rival’s jumper on the way.
Warning graphic:
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 14, 2021
Nasty elbow dislocation for Manly forward Haumole Olakau'atu. If clean dislocation can actually be as quick a return as 3-4 weeks, but concern for significant ligament damage and/or fracture here which would be 6+ weeks recovery. Wish him the best pic.twitter.com/ei63otPCjl
A move hardly uncommon at the ruck.
Yet still nothing good for Olakau’atu who, rising himself, then fell so awkwardly his arm appeared to thwack, pop, twist on contact with the earth.
But if all that sounds crazy, we want Ikuvalu to talk you through what came next.
“Ah, sorry, no, I can’t,” he apologises, seated now on a bench outside Roosters HQ.
“It was a bizarre situation.
“And I really feel for the bloke.
“But that’s all I can say.”
Which is because despite having done nothing wrong, Ikuvalu was not only sent from the field, or accused of a dangerous tackle, but even had some present talking up an attempted Chicken Wing.
Which is fairly bloody difficult when in possession of a Steeden, right?
Why too at the judiciary hearing, Ikuvalu pleaded no contest.
Then unsurprisingly, got off.
None of which you have likely heard much, if anything, about until now.
But don’t feel bad.
This is how life goes for Ikuvalu.
“Or the fringe player,” he grins.
A footballer who wasn’t only plucked from obscurity, and aged 24, to save the Roosters from an injury crisis in 2018, but who in the ensuing three seasons has continually played that role of 18th man, 11th-hour replacement, even the Mr Fix It who become the code’s second ever Concussion Substitute.
Yet now this Central Coast flyer arrives at Magic Round with the chance to change everything.
Not only in a jersey released prematurely by Brett Morris, one of the greatest wingers ever, but with schoolboy prodigy Joseph Suaalii breathing down his neck.
Indeed, if ever your child needed a lesson in perseverance, attitude, even grit, you could do worse than tell them the Ikuvalu yarn.
One of a nuggety NRL winger who, now 27, who was working in a shoe store, playing for Wyong and studying to become a teacher when first called on by Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
That was three year ago.
Back when Robbo was suffering an injury crisis not dissimilar to the MASH unit he oversees now.
“So even though I thought the NRL had passed me,” Ikuvalu says, “I finally got to live my dream”.
Yet since then, he has also answered Robinson’s call another 26 times.
On each of them too, ready no matter the circumstance.
Like in July last year, when he stepped up on 25 minutes notice to replace Morris against North Queensland — and bagged five tries. Or last Friday night against Parramatta, when filling that hole now left permanently by Morris he scored three more.
Same again Anzac Day.
On that occassion, on after Roosters fullback James Tedesco was clocked so high by Jordan Pereira, the St George Illawarra winger was sin binned. A decision which then allowed Ikuvalu, as 18th man, to become the code’s second ever Concussion Substitute.
“So being next man up,” he says, “that mentality is ingrained in me now”.
But still, how tough must it be preparing as 18th man?
“It’s a weird experience, yeah,” he concedes of the game’s new change.
“Because you never arrive at games thinking a teammate will be lost to foul play.
“But throughout the week I’m still preparing, watching video, everything as if I’m playing.”
So as for your mindset that moment Teddy fell?
“Didn’t see it,” he shrugs.
“So I quickly turned to the big screen, then realised it was foul play.”
But still, Ikuvalu couldn’t go on unless Pereira was binned.
“So I’m sitting there thinking ‘oh, please be sent, please be sent’,” he laughs.
“Which is weird.
“And not the best way to get on.
“But still, it’s my job to be ready.”
Which Ikuvalu is, every time.
Part of which he credits to Parramatta great Nathan Cayless, whose current role on the Roosters coaching staff includes preparing players without a game on any weekend.
Throughout COVID, that meant an entire NSW Cup season.
“So every Saturday we’d go to Kippax Oval and have a bash fest,” Ikuvala recounts. “Simulated games on smaller fields.
“That was game day for us.
“And it definitely ensured I was ready for the 10 NRL appearances I did make.”
Same story now.
“Because even when I’m not in the side, our weekly opposed sessions are game-like,” he says. “We bash each other, which definitely keeps you ready.”
Better, Ikuvalu also boasts a personal coach now in Morris, with the injured flanker keen to impart all he’s learned through 16 years of studying, in detail, every single opponent.
“So last week, it was tips on Maika Sivo,” Ikuvalu says. “B-Moz explained what Sivo likes, what he doesn’t.
“Said because he’s such a confidence player, you need to go at him.
“And I think I did that.”
Which matters.
“Because I don’t see myself as a fringe player anymore,” the winger continues. “And now with everything that’s happened in recent weeks, I’ve really got an opportunity to prove it.
“So that’s the new goal for me.
“To get out there and show I belong.”
Robbo fined after Roosters half hospitalised
— Phil Rothfield
The NRL has issued a breach notice and suspended $10,000 fine to Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson in the aftermath of last Friday night’s controversial clash with the Parramatta Eels.
At the same time, Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has escaped with an official warning for muttering a profanity in his press conference following the loss to the Newcastle Knights.
Robinson was sanctioned after describing the match officials as “incompetent” over their handling of two incidents involving his players Drew Hutchison and James Tedesco.
The NRL agreed by sacking bunker offical Steve Chiddy and dropping veteran referee Matt Ceccin for Magic Round.
However, they have found Robinson broke strict media guidelines and brought the game into disrepute with his post-match comments.
The fact the fine has been suspended indicates NRL officials were uncomfortable about taking any action at all.
But that $10,000 fine will now hang over Robinson’s head in case the Roosters coach reoffends.
The match officials failed to sin bin Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown for dropping his knees into the back of Hutchison, and centre Marata Niukore for a high shot on Tedesco.
Both players were subsequently charged and suspended for three and two matches respectively.
Bizzarely, Brown was put on report 20 minutes after the incident, when the teams returned to the field for the second half.
The Roosters have decided to wear the decision and not appeal.
Hutchison, 26, is on a one-year deal and will be sidelined for around six weeks as he tries to vie for another NRL contract.
Stuart received a warning, his second in six weeks, for dropping the F-bomb in the Raiders' post-match press conference in Wagga Wagga.
It came after a journalist asked whether Stuart “fired up” at his side in the sheds during round eight, when the frustrated coach denied that he was and whispered “f**k me” under his breath.
The Raiders coach was also officially cautioned following a sideline incident in the club’s 34-31 loss to the New Zealand Warriors.
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