“He’s been super consistent the past couple of years, and when he has his best games, he’s always the best player on the field. Hopefully his best is yet to come.
“We’re quick to highlight the great attacking stuff he does, be it snatching bombs off fullbacks, or breaking tackles. But I really appreciate the defensive work he does. He stands next to me on the field, but I get to see first-hand the quality in him, and he has become so reliable defensively in that back row spot.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Haumole Olakau’atu have developed a great combination on Manly’s right edge.Credit: Getty Images
“He’s made my life a lot easier. At the end of the day, a player’s career is defined by how much hard work they put in. I know he’ll go on to bigger and better things when I leave this place.
“As you get older, you look back and only hope you’ve made an impact on people’s careers. That will always be a nice feeling. Haumole and I have a lot of love for each other.”
Olakau’atu, at 26 10 years Cherry-Evans’ junior, has worked hard on staying present in games, and reducing the gap between his best and worst performances.
When it comes to Cherry-Evans, Olakau’atu says: “Everyone says I’ve been making ‘Chez’ look good the past four or five years, but it’s the other way around – he’s made me look good and play good, and be the player I am today just through talking to me, and always tipping me up on things.
Haumole Olakau’atu celebrates with DCE and teammates after scoring at Brookvale.Credit: Getty Images
“He’s given me the green light to be myself on the field and play my game. He’s had such a huge impact on my career. There are mixed emotions about him leaving. It’s sad, but if it’s best for him and his family, I’ll 100 per cent support him in whatever he does.
“We have that shared goal of winning a [premiership] ring this year.
“I’m not saying if you put another halfback with me, I wouldn’t be the same player. But his level of professionalism and IQ, it’s on another level. For him to share that with me, it’s been huge and a massive boost for my career.
“He’s like a big brother. If you need help, he’s always there to give advice, be it about footy or not related to footy.”
How many rival clubs can truly say they have a more potent and experienced halfback-back row combination?
Cherry-Evans said the improvements in Olakau’atu’s defensive game had to be admired. Who can forget the shot on Justin Olam in 2023, which was officially deemed the NRL tackle of the year?
“I will always remember that shot on Justin,” Cherry-Evans says. “The hit itself looked great, but when you factor in who it was on – one of the toughest, hard-running centres we’ve had in our game for a while – you think, what a shot. I think [prop] Josh Aloiai is still trying to claim his role in that tackle. But it was all Haumole.
“I’m sure there have been a few players who wished they had skipped a little wider than me over the years.
“I played with Steve Matai who hit hard. It’s a tough one when you ask [which player hit harder]. I never got hit by either of them.
Haumole Olakau’atu and Josh Aloiai flatten Melbourne’s Justin Olam.Credit: Fox Sports
“It’s one of those ones where you have to admire both Steve and Haumole as being some of the best hitters we’ve had the past 15 years.
“Haumole is building a nice highlights reel, but I do believe it’s the stuff he’s doing away from the field that is helping him be consistent on the field.”
Cherry-Evans joked he had a “gentleman’s agreement” with Olakau’atu that he was not allowed to hit him if they line up against each other in the future. That could be the case in just over a fortnight, with Cherry-Evans likely to pull on the Queensland Maroon and Olakau’atu, one of the game’s form back-rowers, well in the mix for NSW Origin selection.
Olakau’atu made headlines during Origin III last year when he entered a sideline melee while dressed in his NSW chinos and blazer as 19th man. The NRL were unimpressed and hit him with a two-match ban.
Haumole Olakau’atu became involved in a melee as a 19th man.Credit: Channel Nine
He told this masthead on the night: “There was more maroon than blue, so I was just being a friend; I wanted to help a brother out.”
Cherry-Evans said the incident would quickly be forgotten by the Maroons.
“I’ll always be biased when it comes to my teammates and say I think Haumole should be there for game one – he won’t let anyone down if he’s there again,” Cherry-Evans said.
“What Haumole did that night, he was just doing what he thought was best for his mates. Rightly or wrongly, he got a couple of weeks for it. If you do the wrong thing, you get a slap on the wrist for it. I’m also sure Haumole lost no sleep about looking after one of his teammates.
“Every series is taken on its own merits. Nobody will be going out of their way to fight Haumole.”
Manly defeated the Panthers a fortnight ago, and will back themselves to fire fresh against a Sharks side coming off a nine-day turnaround following a Magic Round triumph over Parramatta.
Tom Trbojevic is fit and firing. The Manly No.1 is always dangerous. Almost as dangerous as the Olakau’atu and Cherry-Evans combination, which is almost gone, but will never be forgotten.
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