Wests Tigers star Justin Olam has announced his immediate retirement from rugby league after ongoing complications from a knee injury suffered in round 18 last year. The Papua New Guinea international played 13 matches for the Tigers after debuting with the Melbourne Storm. "I came here (to Australia) hoping just to play one game, and I've been blessed a hundred times over to have played more than 100," he said in a statement.
He's as hard as a lump of granite, and Tigers centre Justin Olam lodged his claim for the buy of the year tag at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon. In a desperate struggle between two battling teams, Olam proved the difference as the Tigers out-enthused the Titans 18-10. The win ended a long and painful nine match losing run for the Tigers - and had Olam not been there, it may well have been a 10th straight loss. The PNG international scored a try in each half, positioning himself superbly both times to cut open the Titans defence. Olam's experience has added a hard edge to the young Tigers and he is proving a great addition to Benji Marshall's troops.
Not many Papua New Guinea players have won Dally M Awards down the years, but I'm tipping one this season. Justin Olam, born in Chimbu Province, has been outstanding week-in, week-out for the Storm. A powerhouse runner in attack and pocket dynamo in defence, Olam has become one of the most feared centres in the NRL and may well win Centre of the Year. He bagged a try double in the hard-fought win over Manly on Saturday night and will be a key man in Craig Bellamy's battle plan for the finals.
