OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

king_sirro said:
Except Benji played Galvin on the left last year. Shocking coaching with zero forward thinking. Galvin now starts 2025 from scratch as a right side player after years of predominantly left when he could have had the 2nd half of the year on the right and taken some learnings into the preseason.
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I think he still had delusions of finishing second last. 🙃
 
Suzie-Q said:
And he was last to finish signing autographs and taking photos. I saw him do a video for a guy's aunty's 89th birthday (and told her to drop the panthers because he's a tiger now and Tigers rule!). He truly seems like a lovely guy and a real leader. Check out the bling!!
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I might have been standing near you yesterday as I saw that as well!
 

Podcast: BTR Episode 65 with Jarome Luai​

Author Wests Tigers
Timestamp Mon 16 Dec 2024, 04:18 PM

Welcome to the Jungle, Jarome Luai, our special guest on this week’s summer series edition of Behind The Roar.

btr_romey.png

Wests Tigers' marquee signing covers plenty of ground on the club’s official podcast, telling us how much he’s looking forward to the challenges ahead.

Actions do speak louder than words. I don't really want to talk about what we're gonna do, I'll let our actions speak for themselves.

Jarome Luai
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He says he was blown away by the warm reception he received at last weekend’s Members Only training session, where he signed autographs for the best part of an hour and a half.

Jarome reveals his first taste of the NRL was watching the 2005 Grand Final from a caravan park on the Central Coast, and how from that moment on, he became a Wests Tigers and Benji Marshall fan.

‘Romey’ also tells BTR how important Benji was in his decision to join Wests Tigers, as was his good mate, Api Koroisau.

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He talks about what it means to be “handed the keys to the car” as the club’s new chief playmaker, and what’s impressed him most about young gun Lachie Galvin.

Luai was nothing short of brilliant in 2024, helping the Panthers to a fourth straight premiership and NSW to victory in the State of Origin series.

It should be music to the ears then of Wests Tigers fans to hear Jarome admit he still has a whole lot of improvement left in him.

Jarome Luai meets the Wests Tigers Members
J
arome Luai meets the Wests Tigers Members
All that and more on this special edition of BTR which is available on YouTube, Apple and Spotify at 7 pm on Monday night.

One Jungle. No Limits. Get Behind the Roar.

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www.weststigers.com.au

Podcast: BTR Episode 65 with Jarome Luai

Welcome to the Jungle, Jarome Luai, our special guest on this week’s summer series edition of Behind The Roar.
www.weststigers.com.au www.weststigers.com.au

Available now in Podcast form

Really Looking forward to 2025
 
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Jarome Luai opens up on Wests Tigers pressure, Lachlan Galvin partnership, contract clauses, and more​

Jarome Luai believes he can be as influential a signing at the Tigers as 2005 premiership-winning halfback Scott Prince. Hear from Concord’s new marquee man as he talks expectations, Lachlan Galvin link-up, contract details and more.
Wests Tigers' Jarome Luai At Training

Jarome Luai told Wests Tigers officials that if he played for them this year they would have made the top eight.
This was after spending his off-season re-watching every Tigers game twice before fronting up early for pre-season training last week.

Luai is the Tigers’ most important signing since 2005 premiership-winning halfback Scott Prince. And he believes he could be as influential as well.

Luai spoke with Michael Carayannis about expectations. Not externally but the pressure he has put on himself to win a fifth premiership.

PRESSURE​

“Pressure is a big part of why I’m here,” Luai said.

“I want that pressure. Only the great players get to experience that and I’m looking at it as a great privilege to step into these shoes.”

As for premierships?

“I’ve always shot for the stars bro,” Luai said.

“If there is no ring on my hand at the end of the year, I wouldn’t say it’s a failure but that’s always my goal. If it’s not then you’re not playing in the right sport. That’s my ambition for 2025.”

Luai has worn the No.6 for a large chunk of his career. But he seems set for a switch as he partners Lachie Galvin in the halves.

Jarome Luai looks set to wear the No.7 this season. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Jarome Luai looks set to wear the No.7 this season. Picture: Rohan Kelly
“I think so,” Luai said of playing halfback.

“We’ll see what Benji (Marshall) feels. It would be pretty cool to wear Benji’s six but whatever number is on my back, I’m here to do a good job.”

Luai, who helped launch the Tigers’ upgraded sponsorship with insurance giant, Zurich who are now also the club’s sleeve sponsor as well as their naming rights holder of the centre of excellence, knows what is coming his way.

He had a taste of running the Panthers this season in the absence of Nathan Cleary. The onus will be on him to prove that he can do it for a season.

“There will always be those questions and you’re only as good as your last game,” Luai said.

“If I’m to have a bad game here or there then that question will be there the following week.”

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CLAUSE FOR CONCERN?​

Luai could be a free agent as early as November 1.

While he agreed to a five-year contract to make a high profile switch from the Panthers, his contract is filled with clauses. He can quit the club as early as two seasons in.

“That was negotiated by my management team,” Luai said.

“If you have a good agent then their best interest is the player. I’m locked into the club and bringing success to this team. If you’re a Tigers fan be excited for years to come. I’m all in. That’s the kind of man I’ve been.”

Premiership-winning recruits Sunia Turuva and Jarome Luai. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Premiership-winning recruits Sunia Turuva and Jarome Luai. Picture: Rohan Kelly

LEADERSHIP​

Luai made a statement of coming to training early.

Sunia Turuva, who joined Luai at the Tigers from Penrith this year, said Luai was already barking instructions at their new Tigers teammates. Luai knows he needs to play a different role this season.

“I’m feeling old,” Luai said.

“They are young, full of energy and keen to learn. It takes me back to when I was first coming into grade. Hopefully I can instil in them some good habits.

“(I came early) to get to know the boys. January seemed a bit short to where the season starts. I wanted to show the boys I mean business and start early.

“I don’t want to say that I want to be captain. It’s not a driving factor for me. We have a great captain in Apisai (Koroisau) and I’m really happy to be under him.”

Lachlan Galvin will partner Jarome Luai in the halves. Picture: Wests Tigers

Lachlan Galvin will partner Jarome Luai in the halves. Picture: Wests Tigers

PARTNERSHIP​

The Luai and Galvin combination is critical to any success the Tigers have.

Galvin is setting the standard by clean-sweeping the club’s fitness drills already this pre-season.

“You don’t want to change the way he plays,” Luai said.

“He is so fit. He can be anywhere at any team. That’s a massive asset. He is a sponge and has energy.”

SAYING GOODBYE​

Luai was content when he cleaned out his locker at Penrith for the last time. Four premierships, five grand finals and 131 first grade games to his name.

“I wouldn’t say emotional,” Luai said.

“It was a happy feeling. I left on a good note. I did what I wanted to do in my last season. I really locked into that. I found simple closure in closing this door and being able to move into the next chapter. Now that I’m here it has come quickly but I’m ready for this.
 
Well, he has 5 seasons with us to be a Tigers player
longer than a Panthers player lol, & it will be the greatest
underdog story in the NRL to go from x3 spoons to
a prem. I love the confidence. He means what he
says & backs it up. Soft spoken assassin. By the
time he hangs up the boots & all is said & done he
will go down as one of the best 2 do it. I can envision it.
 
The picture of Luai, Turuva, Api and Naden running together makes me wonder if Naden's motivation, drive, mood and attitude has changed with more of his former Penrith team mates arriving (Terrell May as well). Could be a real motivation for him to get back into the frame for the NRL team.
 
Canadian Club said:
The picture of Luai, Turuva, Api and Naden running together makes me wonder if Naden's motivation, drive, mood and attitude has changed with more of his former Penrith team mates arriving (Terrell May as well). Could be a real motivation for him to get back into the frame for the NRL team.
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Doesn’t really matter. At the end of the day, it’s ability that counts. And he doesn’t have enough of it.
 
At first I was against his signing but after coming across this fella in downtown Penrith on a Saturday morning at my son’s junior soccer game interacting with all kids my opinion changed. Gave everyone the time of day had photos with everyone that asked, definitely not the wanker I perceived him to be! Welcome aboard the bus Jerome.
 
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