Starting in the Blues\u2019 series-opener victory, not only was the back-rower dropped from the starting side, but he was dropped from the team altogether and relegated to being on the extended reserves.<\/p>\n
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This is despite the Blues winning Game 1 and Olakau\u2019atu having a sensational match last week against the South Sydney Rabbitohs which saw many expecting him to retain his place in the line-up.<\/p>\n
The surprising call immediately sparked debate among fans and pundits over the reason for his axing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been a number of theories discussed today because this is a significant call because you win an Origin game and Loz decides to drop his starting back-rower,\u201d Code Sports reporter David Riccio said on NRL 360.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne was about Haumaole\u2019s kick chase efforts. We had a look at those and that was one of the better components of Haumole\u2019s game. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy understanding is it\u2019s the effort areas off the ball and that when the Blues didn\u2019t have the ball and were in defensive mode, the Queenslanders would go and attack his side of the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf not, at him players around him before moving away and coming back to his side.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daley questioned on big Olakau’atu call | 01:31<\/p>\n
Arriving in camp on Monday in the 21-man squad, reports from multiple publications indicated that he was under the assumption that he would be playing in Game 2.<\/p>\n
But that belief was shattered less than 24 hours later when Laurie Daley informed him that he had been overlooked for Dylan Lucas in the starting side and overlooked altogether for a place on the interchange bench.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat surprised me is that Olakauatu is completely out of the squad. He\u2019s the extra man now,\u201d foxsports.com.au\u2019s Paul Crawley added.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat shocked me and that shocked a lot of people because he has been the game\u2019s best back-rower this year. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s an absolute weapon. He played for Manly the other day and made 260 metres.\u201d<\/p>\n
Loz opens up on his role for Strange | 02:25<\/p>\n
Another theory behind his axing that presented itself was that he struggled with the Blues\u2019 training loads and schedule.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe other element to this and this is a common discussion point for every club when they send their players into Origin camps, is how that training load differs to our players.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaumole is a big man and the Manly Sea Eagles runs a program that has to suit Haumole and is specific to him. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe Blues don\u2019t run the same program. Two days out before a game Manly don\u2019t train. Two days out before Origin play, the Blues train.\u201d<\/p>\n
The axing of Olakau\u2019atu also attracted the attention of Sea Eagles coach Kieran Foran, who questioned Daley\u2019s decision to dump him from the 19-man squad.<\/p>\n