Tigers recruit Justin Olam has declared he has “something to prove” ahead of his debut season under rookie coach Benji Marshall in Leichhardt.
The former Storm flyer was recruited by the back-to-back wooden spooners in a player swap, with forward Shawn Blore who joined Craig Bellamy’s Melbourne outfit.
Olam’s 2023 campaign was disappointing by his own admission and he told the SMH his body “wasn’t 100 per cent ready to play”.
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“I had ongoing injuries that I played with, I didn’t give myself a chance to compete. I’m working on that, my health, to get back on track,” Olam said.
“I want to get back to that [top] form, that’s what I’m focused on. I feel I can do it. I still feel I have something still left to prove.
“I’m ready to compete, I just needed to get my body right – that’s my goal at the moment… the Tigers have a lot of faith in me because I wasn’t 100 per cent healthy when they talked to me.”
Olam already has a premiership under his belt, winning the title in 2020 and a year later he was named the Dally M Centre of the Year.
However, the Papua New Guinea international only featured in 17 games last season and missed the opening six rounds due to a broken forearm suffered in a trial.
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Now he faces the toughest test of his career and is desperate to deliver for Marshall who put his faith in the gun centre.
“Benji told me what he wants to do,” Olam said.
“It was a bit tough for me last year and a tough decision to make. I guess it’s a business at the end of the day, that’s about it.
“It’s a challenge, and I love challenges. The people here are so welcoming and the boys have made it easy for me to transition. It’s been good so far.
“Benji had faith in me and brought me here. I want to win and I know the boys here want to win as well. I want to get healthy so I can go out there and play with them, earn their trust and compete.”
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