New Manly second-rower Kelma Tuilagi couldn’t help but laugh when asked about marking up against the damaging Haumole Olakau’atu.
“Playing against Manly last year, it was a bit terrifying. Some big boys,’’ Tuilagi said, with a smile.
“I marked up against Haumole. I was just hoping for the best, trying to tackle the bloke. He's a beast.
“It was one of the main reasons why I came to Manly…to build that second-row partnership with Haumole on the edges.
“Manly have been chasing me for the past two years, so it’s finally great to be here.”
The Samoan international is already embracing his new life at the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, having moved to the Northern Beaches from the Wests Tigers after originally coming through the Melbourne Storm system. He is signed with Manly until the end of 2025.
Tuilagi wasted little time in arriving at the Sea Eagles, a fact not lost on new Coach Anthony Seibold.
“Kelma got a great experience playing in the World Cup final at Old Trafford. Off the back of that, he broke his (annual) leave early to come into our three-day camp,’’ Seibold said.
To me, that shows Kelma’s commitment as an individual and to the team
Manly Coach Anthony Seibold
“Kelma has a fantastic work ethic. He had a break out season last year playing the bulk of it in the NRL.
“There is some healthy competition for back-row spots. Kelma and Haumole are edge back-rowers, Ben Trbojevic has really grown over the pre-season too, and we have also got young Samuela Fainu coming through.
“That’s four guys who have been working on the edges. They are all big physical players.
“The competition for spots has been making our training sessions even more competitive.”
Tuilagi said he had little hesitation in breaking his holiday.
“It was an option if I wanted to come or not. But by the end of the first day, I was questioning my decision. Geez, it was tough,’’ Tuilagi laughed.
“Finishing it made all of the hard work worth it. I just saw it as a great opportunity to meet my new team-mates and to challenge myself early with them.
“All of the boys are keen to rip in for the season. It’s a fresh start for everyone with a new coaching staff. There is a real positive energy here at Manly.
“I want to become a regular NRL player. I know I can do that here.
“I’ve enjoyed running into the gaps created by (halves) Josh Schuster and Daly Cherry-Evans over the last few weeks at training. Our combinations are building nicely.”
