A tackle way back in April has done so much damage to the psyche of a Storm star that it’s kept him out of the side for Friday night’s crunch final, according to rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns.
Previewing the Broncos v Storm blockbuster that will get the NRL finals series underway on Friday, both Johns and Brad Fittler were stunned by the centre pairing selected by Craig Bellamy for the qualifying final, with both Justin Olam and Reimis Smith out of the side.
In their places are the unheralded Marion Seve and Young Tonumaipea, with Johns unpicking the sudden fall for Papua New Guinean star Olam, who just two years ago was considered the best centre in the NRL.
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“I think there was talk that Olam has lost a bit of confidence, he got whacked [by Haumole Olakau’atu],” Johns said on Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and The Eighth’s Tips.
“Anyway, that surprised me, from the outside looking in you’d have Reimis (Smith) and Olam. But he’d (Bellamy) have a plan.”
The tackle in question (watch in the video below) was a double whammy way back in April, with Manly enforcers Haumole Olakau’atu and Josh Aloiai rocking Olam and knocking him on his back as he came flying towards the defensive line in his usual no fear fashion in Manly’s 18-8 win at 4Pines Park.
Olam rocked by monster Manly tackles
Johns was commentating that match for Nine and was left awestruck by the brutality of the tackle.
“That never happens,” Johns said.
“You never see Justin Olam hit like that. I’ve never ever seen Olam get rocked, let alone smashed like that.
“For people watching at home, this player never gets smashed. What a hit.”
The hit also left Jonathan Thurston rattled, with the Queensland great adding: “I’m glad I’m retired … oh my gosh look at that.
“That is rugby league at its best.”
Olam hasn’t been the same player since that moment, with his apparent loss of confidence leading to a form slump that ultimately cost him his place in first grade.
However, Fittler and Johns were still surprised he hadn’t been recalled for the finals series, with Bellamy putting him back in first grade for last week’s win over the Broncos, as part of an unfamiliar looking team due to the decision to rest most of his first choice players.
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While Olam performed well in that game, Bellamy stuck with the centre pairing that has put the Storm in reach of an unlikely premiership after a strong post Origin period, recalling Seve and Tonumaipea to his starting side.
They’ll have their hands full with classy opponents Kotoni Staggs and Herbie Farnworth, yet Fittler and Johns see another factor being decisive in the clash, observing that Adam Reynolds was the only Broncos player with significant finals experience.
The Storm line-up on the other hand is full of proven big game players, not to mention their astonishing success rate in Brisbane, where they have won their past 11 straight clashes with the Broncos.
Bellamy’s men have in fact won 23 of the last 27 games against the Broncos, giving a genuine ‘hoodoo’ narrative to the first final in what’s shaping as a mouthwatering weekend.
Scroll below for the current leaderboard and week one finals tips by all Nine’s expert tipsters!
Brad Fittler: Storm, Panthers, Roosters, Knights
Andrew Johns: Storm, Panthers, Roosters, Knights
Billy Slater: Storm, Panthers, Roosters, Knights
Wally Lewis: Broncos, Panthers, Roosters, Knights
Paul Gallen: Storm, Panthers, Sharks, Knights
Peter Psaltis: Broncos, Panthers, Roosters, Knights
Darren Lockyer: Broncos, Panthers, Roosters, Knights
James Bracey: Broncos, Panthers, Roosters, Knights
Mat Thompson: Broncos, Panthers, Roosters, Knights
David Middleton: Storm, Panthers, Sharks, Knights
The Mole: Broncos, Panthers, Sharks, Knights
Ben Glover: Broncos, Panthers, Sharks, Knights