32 Facts About Justin Olam

Justin Olam was born on 23 December 1993 and is a retired Papua New Guinean professional rugby league footballer who last played for Wests Tigers in the NRL and Papua New Guinea at international level.

In 2020 Olam won an NRL premiership with the Melbourne Storm and in the following year he was awarded the Dally M centre of the year.

Justin Olam is the second Papua New Guinean local rugby league player to play in the NRL without having played junior rugby league in Australia, emulating his countryman, and former Melbourne Storm 1999 NRL premiership winner, Marcus Bai.

Justin Olam was born and raised in Gon, a small village in the Sinesine Yonggomugl District of the mountainous Chimbu Province, Papua New Guinea.

Justin Olam was not able to play much rugby league due to both of his parents wanting him to prioritise his education.

Justin Olam was educated at Rosary Secondary School in Chimbu and attended the Papua New Guinea University of Technology in Lae Morobe Province where he graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Physics.

Whilst studying for his degree, Justin Olam began playing rugby league for the Unitech Spartans in the PNG Universities competition.

Justin Olam played for them for one year in the Queensland Cup.

Justin Olam went on to make his international debut for Papua New Guinea Kumuls at the 2016 Pacific Test against Fiji Bati.

Justin Olam was still patient for an opportunity to make the Melbourne Storm first grade team.

Justin Olam continued to represent Papua New Guinea Kumuls in the 2017 Pacific Test and 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

In round 9 of the 2018 NRL season Justin Olam made his NRL debut in the centres 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.

Justin Olam had his Melbourne jersey presented to him by fellow Melbourne Storm player Billy Slater.

Justin Olam 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.

Justin Olam 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.

Justin Olam's 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.

In round 24 of the 2019 NRL season Justin Olam scored his first ever NRL hat-trick in his 13th game against Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles at Lottoland Brookvale Oval.

Justin Olam 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.

Justin Olam's 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, Justin Olam was named in the Papua New Guinea Kumuls team for the inaugural 2019 Rugby League World Cup 9s.

Justin Olam played in the pre-season NRL trial matches against New Zealand Warriors and North Queensland.

Justin Olam performed very strongly in both defence and attack in these games, which resulted in him cementing the left centre spot for the Storm.

Justin Olam scored his first try of the 2020 season in round four against South Sydney.

Justin 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.

Justin Olam was one of the biggest surprises when the nominees for every position were announced on the Monday night ahead of the second night of the prestigious event, which was held at Brisbane's Howard Smith Wharves.

Justin Olam was later invited and awarded the well deserved Dally M Centre of the year award.

Justin Olam played for Melbourne in their elimination final loss to Canberra.

In late 2022, Justin Olam represented Papua New Guinea at the 2021 Rugby League World Cup playing all four games before they were eliminated by England at the quarter-final stage.

Justin Olam played 17 games for Melbourne in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished third on the table.

Justin Olam was called into the Melbourne side for their semi-final against the Sydney Roosters after not being selected for the qualifying final against Brisbane.

Justin Olam decided not to contest the grading of his high tackle after he ended his season requiring surgery on both of his knees.

On 28 March, Justin Olam announced his medical retirement from the NRL after struggling to recover from a knee injury sustained in the 2024 season.