Manly backrower locked down for EIGHT YEARS; Warriors sign Broncos star: NRL Transfer Centre

Sea Eagles enforcer Haumole Olakau’atu has put pen to paper on a mammoth six-year extension reportedly worth around $8 million.

The 25-year-old has signed his new deal which will see him remain in Brookvale until the end of 2031.

Olakau’atu has been one of the Sea Eagles’ best in recent seasons and has been in the conversation for a NSW Blues call-up.

The backrower was contracted until the end of the 2025 season, but Manly powerbrokers have moved quickly to make sure he didn’t hit the open market.

Olakau’atu has played 73 games since making his debut in 2019 when he made two appearances.

His breakthrough season came in 2021 when he featured 21 times before once again making the same amount of appearances in 2022.

Last season he scored 10 tries in his 24 games, breaking the line 11 times and making 13 offloads.

“We have seen the growth in Haumole over the last couple of years but, in particular, the last 12 months,’’ Manly coach Anthony Seibold said.

“From a physical point of view, Haumole is an 80 minutes back-rower now.

“The biggest thing that has impressed me over the past year is that Haumole has given himself to the team in a way that a lot of people are now following him.

“We have seen those leadership qualities in him.

“Haumole has graduated into a leadership position at Manly and that’s been the most exciting part of him as a person. He has also grown into a devoted family man.

“We feel that Haumole’s best years are ahead of him and that he can develop into an elite player who can play at State of Origin level for the NSW Blues.

“He has already played at Test level for Tonga but he is at that part of his career now where he can play State of Origin.

“If he plays State of Origin, it means he is playing consistent. That’s his narrow focus, being consistent at Manly.

“Haumole is a high-quality player and we love having him. The Club has invested in his long-term career. We want Haumole to be a one Club player.

“We feel Manly is the best Club for Haumole and that he is the right person to invest in.”

Olakau’atu now joins Josh Schuster as some of the highest-paid backrowers in the competition, with Luke Brooks now taking over in the No.6.

The Warriors have made a major move in the player market, signing premiership-winning second-rower Kurt Capewell effecitve immediately.

Capewell has inked a three-year deal which locks him in until the end of 2026.

The 30-year-old’s contract with the Broncos wasn’t due to expire until the end of 2024 but the parties involved were able to negotiate an immediate release.

Capewell joins the Warriors with 139 NRL games of experience over stints with the Sharks and Broncos. He has represented Queensland nine times and won the premiership with the Panthers in 2021.