Laurie Daley accused of letting down Dylan Lucas, Haumole Olakau’atu recall for Game 3, NSW Blues vs Queensland Maroons

Sea Eagles coach Kieran Foran is confident edge forward Haumole Olakau’atu can fight his way back into the NSW side for the State of Origin decider after the barnstorming back-rower was a shock omission for game two at the MCG.

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Olakau’atu has been the best second-rower in 2026, with the Manly machine averaging a career-high 165m per game – 43 more than his previous best – while he’s already matched his best in try assists and will shatter his personal best for tackle breaks.

But after starting in the series opener, Olakau’atu was sensationally left out of the 19 for game two in Melbourne where the NSW right edge collapsed defensively as the Maroons piled on the points to force a decider.

Dylan Lucas was shifted to the right and struggled on debut, with calls already for NSW coach Laurie Daley to recall the Sea Eagles star who was dropped for reasons unknown.

“I’ve said it from the start that I wouldn’t have any other back-rower in the country ahead of Haumole,” Foran said.

“I think what he brings to a footy side is unique, it’s different to what many other back-rowers can bring, and I absolutely love that about him.

“I think Haumole will just do what Haumole does best (on Saturday against the Bulldogs), which is turn up and perform to the best of his ability.

“I don’t think he’ll be too worried about proving people wrong and trying to make a statement.

“I think we know what sort of footballer he is and what he can bring to a footy side, particularly ours. We just want him to go out there and back himself 100 per cent in everything he does.

“That’s what he’s been doing for us, and his form this year has been unbelievable. It’s been as good as it’s ever been. I just want him to keep going with that.”

Discussing Olakau’atu’s potential recall, Fox League’s Luke Keary questioned where the towering backrower’s head was at.

“How’s Haumole feeling now?” he said on NRL 360 on Thursday.

“Is he going to be willing to die for the jersey in Game 3? That’s the question you’ve got to ask.”

That prompted CODE Sports David Riccio to declare the situation “sad”.

“Would any Queensland player be asked whether they are willing to die for the jersey,” he replied.

Anasta, however, said it came down to trust.

“That’s where we are at. Haumole, or any player for that matter in that team, do they trust and do they believe in their coach. Would they die for them?” Anasta said.

“If someone does duds you, it changes.

“But he’s got such a big career ahead of him, Haumole, he’s got to put it behind him.”

The panel then turned their attention to Lucas and Daley’s decision to shift him to the opposite side to where he plays for the Knights.

“He’s been dudded, Absolutely dudded by Laurie and the selectors,” CODE Sports reporter Brent Read said.

“Putting him out of position, on the opposite to where he plays on his Origin debut.

“I feel sorry for Dylan Lucas. I feel like he’s been let down.”

Kearyalso sympathised with the Blues rookie.

“I didn’t think he was bad. That right edge got absolutely found out last night and he had to scramble a lot of times and missed a few tackles,” he said.

“It is difficult to go to the other side and he just didn’t get fed any ball.”

Riccio, meanwhile, said the decision to bring in Lucas for Olakau’atu was defensive.

“If we analyse why he was there it was due to Olakau’atu’s defensive lapses that saw him fall out of the team,” he said.

“Again that highlighted the decsion to get rid of him. In hindsight a terrible decsion. They just got so much wrong.”

“I don’t understand how you get so much wrong.”

Olakau’atu isn’t the only big name Sea Eagle in the mix for Origin III, with superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic set to make a timely return from the hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since round 7.

Foran said the club took a “cautious approach” with their best player given his history of hamstring injuries and backed Trbojevic to get the job done if Daley decided to pick him in the outside backs in Brisbane.

“It’s his first game back, so he’ll want to put in a complete 80-minute performance for us tomorrow night and then see how he pulls up,” he said.

“But there is no doubt in my mind that if he’s called upon, he’ll be able to get the job done (for NSW).”

While Trbojevic is physically fit again, Foran was proud of the fullback’s mental resilience over the past two months given how frustrated he must have been to suffer yet another injury setback.

Being sidelined was made easier by the fact Manly kept winning while he was away, with the club surging up the ladder since Foran took over.

“He obviously would prefer to be out there and in control of things, so it was tough for him sitting up there in the coach’s box watching on,” Foran said.

“But it was a great luxury for us to have him up there. He’s one of the smartest footballers I’ve ever come across and he sees the game so well.

“Observing Tommy, I just feel like he didn’t want to put too much emphasis on this latest hammy injury. I think he’s been here so many times before and he really is such a hard worker in his preparation.

“I think for Tommy it was just about not overthinking this latest one. It’s part of what’s happened throughout his footy career and he just knuckled down. He worked as hard as he could, as fast as he could to get his body back to where it needed to go.”