{"id":398001,"date":"2024-05-28T20:41:29","date_gmt":"2024-05-28T20:41:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=398001"},"modified":"2024-05-28T23:06:33","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T23:06:33","slug":"blues-rookie-apologises-for-stupid-childish-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=398001","title":{"rendered":"Blues rookie apologises for 'stupid, childish' post"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of NSW<\/a>'s new faces was once a Maroons<\/a> supporter – but he's pleading with the fans to forgive him ahead of next week's State of Origin<\/a> series opener in Sydney.<\/p>\n

Haumole Olakau'atu admitted his father's fandom \u2013 and his own lack of rugby league knowledge growing up \u2013 saw him cheer on the cane toads during their era of dominance.<\/p>\n

As one of six debutants in Michael Maguire's squad for game one<\/a>, the 25-year-old is primed to make a huge impact for the Blues, with his form at club level for the Sea Eagles making him a no-brainer selection.<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Heartbreaking reason ex-Test star's switching allegiances<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Illness floors Maroons star as Slater bites at claim<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

READ MORE:<\/strong> Ugly twist after TV mic clears star of 'verbal abuse'<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

However, Olakau'atu grew up\ufeff in an era where Queensland won year-in, year-out and tormented fans south of the border – ultimately making a Maroons fan out of Olakau'atu.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, the damaging back-rower admitted his previous support for the Maroons and asked for forgiveness from the NSW faithful for an Instagram story he posted a number of years ago.<\/p>\n

\ufeff"If I'm gonna be honest, I was growing up and going for the Maroons," Olakau'atu said.<\/p>\n

"I didn't know footy at the time when I was young. I played footy, but I didn't know it was such a big thing. My old man was a Maroons supporter as well – I knew nothing else.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2024 State of Origin series exclusively live and free on Nine and <\/strong><\/em>9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.\ufeff<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

"I don't know what I was thinking [with the social media post]. I was stupid, I was childish and I hope all the NSW fans can forgive me.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"I started to realise over the years, I live here in NSW and I deserve to be a Blue."\ufeff<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Depsite his earlier love for the Maroons – pointing to the likes of Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston as his favourite players – there was one player who swayed him.<\/p>\n

"I loved Jarryd Hayne and how he played … that's part of where my Blues (fandom) started," Olakau'atu said with a smile.<\/p>\n

While his allegiances prior to his selection had been debated, there's no doubting that come Wednesday night, the enforcer will be ready to rip and tear for NSW.<\/p>\n

Watch the 2024 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

After missing out last year and seeing Tongan teammate Keaon Koloamatangi earn a debut, the fire was lit inside Olakau'atu and the phone call from Maguire over the weekend left him in an emotional state.<\/p>\n

\ufeff"I'm still in shock," he said.<\/p>\n

\"Haumole<\/p>\n

"My mind just went blank – I remember the first few words he said on the phone when he called me – and the rest was all a blur. I can't remember anything else, but I was stoked. I had my old man next to me, he was in tears – it was a very special moment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"I was disappointed [last year], not gonna lie – it did fuel a bit of fire.<\/p>\n

"At the same time, I was very stoked for Keaon to play for the Blues. He is a very good player and one of the best back-rowers in the game."<\/p>\n

The form reversal for both player's respective clubs in 2024 has resulted in Olakau'atu jumping in front of his Rabbitohs rival, with the Sea Eagles knocking off the likes of Penrith and Melbourne over the course of the opening 12 rounds.<\/p>\n

\ufeffOlakau'atu credited club teammates Daly Cherry-Evans and Jake Trbojevic – the two men who will captain Queensland and NSW respectively next week – for his recent performances in club land.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

"They've both been massive for me," he said.<\/p>\n

"I play with Chez on the right side and every week I learn a new thing or two from Chez. And for Jakey, it's just his actions in defence, he is such an inspiration to us."<\/p>\n

Olakau'atu is expected to come off the bench against Queensland, with the in-form Angus Crichton earning a recall in the back-row alongside Liam Martin.<\/p>\n

Zac Lomax, Joseph Suaalii, Dylan Edwards, Cameron McInnes and Spencer Leniu will join the Manly wrecking ball as the debutants in the Blues side. \ufeff<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One of NSW's new faces was once a Maroons supporter – but he's pleading with the fans to forgive him ahead of next week's State […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":398005,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398001"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=398001"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398001\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":398008,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/398001\/revisions\/398008"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/398005"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=398001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=398001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=398001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}