Justin Olam

After impressive performance in the Digicel Cup for the Lae Snax Tigers in the Papua New Guinea National Rugby League, he was signed by the PNG Hunters for the 2016 Queensland Cup season. He played for them for one year in the Queensland Cup.[2] He went on to make his international debut for Papua New Guinea Kumuls at the 2016 Pacific Test against Fiji Bati. With a successful 2016 campaign, Olam signed a contract with the Melbourne Storm for the 2017 and 2018 season in the NRL.[3]

In 2017, he played in every game for the Melbourne Storm feeder club Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Intrust Super Cup competition through to the grand final loss against his former team PNG Hunters who came from behind to score in the dying minutes and won 12–10 at Suncorp Stadium. He was still patient for an opportunity to make the Melbourne Storm first grade team. He also continued to represent Papua New Guinea Kumuls in the 2017 Pacific Test and 2017 Rugby League World Cup.[4]

In round 9 of the 2018 NRL season Olam made his NRL debut in the centers for the Melbourne Storm against the St George Illawarra Dragons at Jubilee Oval where he set up a try for his winger Josh Addo-Carr. He had his Melbourne jersey (cap number 187) presented to him by former Melbourne Storm player Billy Slater.

He then played two further games at the end of the season in round 24 against Gold Coast Titans and round 25 against Penrith Panthers in the NRL season. He continued international representation for his beloved Papua New Guinea Kumuls in the Pacific Test against Fiji Bati in Sydney and two end of year test against the England Knights in Lae and Port Moresby. His contract was extended for another two years after impressive string of performance in the reserve grade which will keep him at the Melbourne Storm till the end of the 2020 NRL season.[5]

In round 24 of the 2019 NRL season Olam scored his first ever NRL hat-trick in his 13th game against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Lottoland Brookvale Oval. He finished off strongly in the 2019 season with him playing in 14 games and scored 7 tries at the back end of the season, and touted by many as one of the most Improved NRL player of the modern era. His continuous rising in the top grade kept the likes of Will Chambers, Sandor Earl, Curtis Scott, Solomone Kata and Marion Seve on the bench or cooling their heels off in reserve grade. On 2 October, Olam was named in the Papua New Guinea Kumuls team for the inaugural 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s. During the two days Downer Rugby League World Cup 9s tournament at the Bankwest Stadium in Sydney, he played in all the three matches in their pool against USA Hawks, New Zealand Kiwis and Australia Kangaroos were Olam scored one try against New Zealand Kiwis. On 23 October, he was again named in the Papua New Guinea Kumuls squad for the 2019 Oceania Cup (rugby league) Pool B Ox & Palm Pacific Invitational Test against Fiji Bati at Christchurch Stadium in New Zealand on 9 November 2019, and Great Britain Lions on 16 November 2019 at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby Papua New Guinea. In the game against the Great Britain Lions he played at left centre and scored one try as the Kumuls defeated the GB Lions 28–10.[4]

On 14–15 February 2020, Olam played for Melbourne in the NRL Nines tournament in Perth. He also played in the pre-season NRL trial matches against New Zealand Warriors and North Queensland. He performed very strongly in both defence and attack in these games, which resulted in him cementing the left centre spot for the Storm. With his current scintillating form he was rewarded with a two-year contract on May 22 to keep him at Melbourne until the end of 2022.

Affectionately known as 'the human brick', by his teammates, Olam plays with seemingly no sense of self-preservation. He scored his first try of the 2020 season in round four against South Sydney. In round 16 he scored his second career hat-trick against Manly-Warringah.On October 16, in Melbourne's Preliminary Final game against the Canberra Raiders at Suncorp Stadium, Olam scored a try in the 23rd minute off a kick from teammate Ryan Papenhuyzen, miraculously leaping over both Papenhuyzen and Canberra player Hudson Young while avoiding the arm of Nick Cotric to catch the ball mid-air before grounding it. Melbourne went on to win the match 30-10 and qualified for the Grand Final. On the 25 October, Melbourne went on to win the Grand final, beating the Penrith Panthers 26–20 in which Olam scored a penalty try in the fourth minute of the match.[6]

Olam played a total of 25 games for Melbourne in the 2021 NRL season as the club won 19 matches in a row and claimed the Minor Premiership. Olam played in all three final matches including the preliminary final where Melbourne suffered a surprise 10–6 loss against eventual premiers Penrith Panthers. Melbourne star Cameron Munster has taken to Instagram to vent his frustration at teammate Justin Olam being snubbed for the Dally M team of the year consideration. "I'm not usually one for a rant, but pretty disappointed my PNG brother Justin Olam didn't even get nominated for Centre of the year!" Munster wrote on his Instagram story. "He's easily a top-three Centre. Don't come at me. The system needs a change, NRL". Olam was one of the biggest surprises when the nominees for every position were announced on Monday night ahead of the second night of the prestigious event, which is being held at Brisbane's Howard Smith Wharves. According to reports there has been a last-minute backflip from the NRL to grant Olam an invite to the event where the NRL will announce the best Centre of the 2021 season, alongside the Player of the Year Award. The Courier-Mail first reported the league did a U-turn on extending an invite to Olam for Monday's ceremony after first claiming an “administrative oversight” was behind the failure to recognise Olam's performances in 2021.The Papua New Guinea star has had a breakout season leading to recognition from NRL immortal Andrew Johns that he was the “best Centre in the world” earlier this year. He was later invited and awarded the well deserved Dally M Centre of the year award.[7]

In the 2022 NRL season, Olam played 24 matches for Melbourne and scored ten tries. Olam played for Melbourne in their elimination final loss to Canberra.[8] In late 2022, Olam represented Papua New Guinea at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup playing all four games as they were eliminated by England at the quarter-final stage.[9]

On 14 February, it was announced that Olam would miss the opening six rounds of the 2023 NRL season due to an arm injury he sustained during the clubs pre-season trial against the Sydney Roosters.[10]

• Junior Club: Unitech Spartans
• Won the PNG Unitech VC Cup in 2015 with the AP Photons (Applied Phyics Students) as captain of the team
• Played for the PNG Prime Minister's XIII (2015,2016,2018)
• International Test Debut: v Fiji Bati, May 17, 2016
• First Grade Debut: Round 9, Melbourne Storm v St George Illawarra Dragons at Jubilee Oval, Sun 6 May 2018
• First NRL Try: Round 17, Melbourne Storm v Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at AAMI Park, Sat 13 Jul 2019
• First NRL Hat-trick: Round 24, Melbourne Storm v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval Aug 31 2019
• Played in the Papua New Guinea Kumuls team that beat the Great Britain Lions at Port Moresby National Football Stadium PNG, Sat 16 Nov 2019
• 2019: (Melbourne Storm) NRL Minor Premiership winner (J J Giltinan Shield)
• 2020: (Melbourne Storm) NRL Premiership winner (Provan-Summons Trophy)
• 2021: (Melbourne Storm) NRL Minor Premiership winner (J J Giltinan Shield)

• 2016: Queensland Cup XXXX People's Choice Award winner
• 2017: Queensland Cup Best centre of the year Award Winner
• 2020: NRL Melbourne Storm Most Improved Player of the year Award Winner
• 2021: NRL Dally M. Medal centre of the year Award Winner