Haumole Olakau’atu looks to have all but secured his spot in Laurie Daley’s NSW Blues side for Game 1 after a man-of-the-match performance in Manly’s 46-18 win over the Tigers.
Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Olakau’atu was a handful all afternoon, finishing with 203 run metres, including 90 post-contact, to go with eight tackle busts, three linebreaks, two try assists and one try.
“I think the Blues are kidding if they don’t pick him… what else does he have to do to be selected?” teammate Jamal Fogarty told Fox League post-game.
“He’s been there before and the last six weeks he’s been destructive.”
The Sea Eagles moved up inside the top four with the win, which was the sixth in their last seven games, with their only loss coming in tight fasion to the ladder-leading Panthers.
The Tigers, meanwhile, continue to slide down the ladder after a third-straight loss and have now conceded 44 points or more in all three of those games.
It will be disappointing for coach Benji Marshall, who was making no excuses last week after the loss to Melbourne despite a mounting injury toll.
The carnage continued on Saturday with Taylan May suffering what looked to be a re-aggravation of his previous shoulder injury.
While he will have to go for scans, Marshall said in his post-game press conference that there are fears it is dislocated and he will be out for the season.
Jock Madden, meanwhile, looked in discomfort late with a potential hamstring issue.
FOLLOW THE ACTION IN OUR LIVE BLOG BELOW. CAN’T SEE IT? CLICK HERE.