OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

[king_sirro]

On social media people are saying Luai was a better 7 then Cleary coming through the juniors.

Yea its been well known Luai was the better 7 as a youngster. While that's a positive, I wouldn't read too much into it. Generally players like Luai (halves with natural flare and athleticism) standout more then the Cleary types.

 

[Needaname]

On social media people are saying Luai was a better 7 then Cleary coming through the juniors.

Cleary mentioned in a podcast last year that it was he vs Luai in the juniors growing up and he enjoyed the rivalry whilst it was there.

 

[rugbygoated]

Not sure if how they played in juniors is any longer relevant to either of them.

Luai was never really given the chance to play regular footy at halfback in first grade because he has the best halfback in the NRL in his team as well as James Maloney who can also play halfback. But in his few opportunities since 2018, he played halfback in his starting debut in 2018 and killed it. He played halfback for Samoa and was excellent defensively and in attack. And he has done a great job filling in whenever Cleary is out for penrith. But not for an extended period. Ivan Cleary said he is "sure Luai could lead a team" but called it a risk on the money offered. Luai responded last week saying he's right but it shocked him (that the coach would say it publicly most likely)

 

[rugbygoated]

Yea its been well known Luai was the better 7 as a youngster. While that's a positive, I wouldn't read too much into it. Generally players like Luai (halves with natural flare and athleticism) standout more then the Cleary types.

Gus Gould has said this many times. And he was the guy in charge of watching promising juniors during that period. Have a look at his tweeting history if you can't find the clips but he has a huge wrap on luai.

This is an older tweet but an example:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1311984315501211651

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Luai was never really given the chance to play regular footy at halfback in first grade because he has the best halfback in the NRL in his team as well as James Maloney who can also play halfback. But in his few opportunities since 2018, he played halfback in his starting debut in 2018 and killed it. He played halfback for Samoa and was excellent defensively and in attack. And he has done a great job filling in whenever Cleary is out for penrith. But not for an extended period. Ivan Cleary said he is "sure Luai could lead a team" but called it a risk on the money offered. Luai responded last week saying he's right but it shocked him (that the coach would say it publicly most likely)

As the saying goes, the numbers on their backs are irrelevant these days. What matters is that when he gets here, he’ll be the dominant half.

 

[rugbygoated]

As the saying goes, the numbers on their backs are irrelevant these days. What matters is that when he gets here, he’ll be the dominant half.

in other words, the halfback. There's no current halves combination (maybe Walker/Keary) where the 5/8 is more dominant than the halfback. Numbers don't really matter as much as tradition goes

 

[batboy]

in other words, the halfback. There's no current halves combination (maybe Walker/Keary) where the 5/8 is more dominant than the halfback. Numbers don't really matter as much as tradition goes

Id throw in…
Souths
Titans
Melbourne
Raiders (until wighton left)

There’s been plenty -
Our current coach played his entire career almost as a dominant 6.
Lockyer, Maloney in recent past…
The 7 and 6 of old are gone… they’re referred to as right and left these days - either can be more dominant

 

[SeanT]

I agree mate Burton is a shadow of the player he was, but thats just as much as taking him out of the panthers system as anything. I don't see how they shift him to the centres either easily anyway with Xerri and Critta there I don't think its a given Critta is a FB.
People wonder why some of our fan talk and compare with the dogs, we are in very similar situations often competing for the same players. I think Gus is doing a number on them, they are going scattergun with their recruitment. You have a woefully unbalanced squad there with a sprinkling of stars without any direction, whereas we are trying to balance our squad.

Whats Chrichton on? 1 mill? No way hes cpme to play centre at that money.

Hel be fullback. Dont think its his best position, however you need him in the game.so hel go there.

Glad we dpnt have to worry about fullback.

1,7 and 9 eill be cemented 2025. Good spot to be in.

 

[Roar_Power]

Whats Chrichton on? 1 mill? No way hes cpme to play centre at that money.

Hel be fullback. Dont think its his best position, however you need him in the game.so hel go there.

Glad we dpnt have to worry about fullback.

1,7 and 9 eill be cemented 2025. Good spot to be in.

Not a bad portfolio of 6's to choose from either....

 

[Coastie_Tiger]

Whats Chrichton on? 1 mill? No way hes cpme to play centre at that money.

Hel be fullback. Dont think its his best position, however you need him in the game.so hel go there.

Glad we dpnt have to worry about fullback.

1,7 and 9 eill be cemented 2025. Good spot to be in.

Just because you sign on FB money doesn't necessarily make you one, Moses Mbye prime example of that and i think Doueihi was signed to play FB albeit not on FB money.

Can he make it as a fb probably, but like Ivan said about Luai he hasn't done it consistently yet, time will tell on that.

But i agree im glad its not our worry we have a gun there, hopefully not with second season syndrome.

 

[GCfan]

Id throw in…
Souths
Titans
Melbourne
Raiders (until wighton left)

There’s been plenty -
Our current coach played his entire career almost as a dominant 6.
Lockyer, Maloney in recent past…
The 7 and 6 of old are gone… they’re referred to as right and left these days - either can be more dominant

Interesting the left and right side player comment and I’ve heard the same thing which might be Benji’s thinking. I could be mistaken, but I’m sure Latu plays right side most of the time and Jarome typically left so keen to see how this new combo plays out.

 

[rugbygoated]

Id throw in…
Souths
Titans
Melbourne
Raiders (until wighton left)

There’s been plenty -
Our current coach played his entire career almost as a dominant 6.
Lockyer, Maloney in recent past…
The 7 and 6 of old are gone… they’re referred to as right and left these days - either can be more dominant

Titans is a good shout. Souths is pretty balanced. Melbourne Munster the better player but Hughes is more dominant with the ball. Raiders was pretty balanced too but Fogarty is an out and out halfback and did more organising. JT is a good example too

 

[GNR4LIFE]

It’s going back a few years, but the Broncos won a premiership with Shane Perry at 7. A guy who could barely crack first grade for the Maggies in 1999. You can get by with an average half if the other is an elite.

 

[batboy]

Titans is a good shout. Souths is pretty balanced. Melbourne Munster the better player but Hughes is more dominant with the ball. Raiders was pretty balanced too but Fogarty is an out and out halfback and did more organising. JT is a good example too

I think they're just different roles, I don't see Hughes getting the ball much more than Munster - If more at all?
Hughes kicks - But when something needs to happen, It goes to Munny....

You really reckon Ilias is gets the same ball at Souths than Cody?
Dunno about that man....

JT and Maloney were similar - 6 Quasy 7's (Keary is a bit like that as well)
Play both sides of the field and handle either role without much fuss...

 

[batboy]

Interesting the left and right side player comment and I’ve heard the same thing which might be Benji’s thinking. I could be mistaken, but I’m sure Latu plays right side most of the time and Jarome typically left so keen to see how this new combo plays out.

Benji played his career without a 7, Without a half for a lot of it....
If your 6 can dominate, and he can find a Robin for the Batman - It'll work just fine...
They do the same job for the most part in most teams - Just on either side of the park...
The really good ones being somewhat of an exception.

 

[Tucker]

Our current coach played his entire career almost as a dominant 6.

There were three years where he was not the dominant half.
2005, 2010, 2011.
All the rest he was to shabby result.

 

[Odessa]

It’s going back a few years, but the Broncos won a premiership with Shane Perry at 7. A guy who could barely crack first grade for the Maggies in 1999. You can get by with an average half if the other is an elite.

Perry had a great year did his job kick to the corners and catch and pass to the great one but they also had Hunt out the back and a good hooker

 

[Needaname]

Interesting the left and right side player comment and I’ve heard the same thing which might be Benji’s thinking. I could be mistaken, but I’m sure Latu plays right side most of the time and Jarome typically left so keen to see how this new combo plays out.

Latu and Galvin both play left side and Sullivan plays both sides. Seen him play right side when named at HB and not 5/8.
All 3 however are right footed kickers and should be training for both sides given Sezer and then Luai is a left side player and the only left footed kickers in the team.

 

[stephen]

It’s going back a few years, but the Broncos won a premiership with Shane Perry at 7. A guy who could barely crack first grade for the Maggies in 1999. You can get by with an average half if the other is an elite.

Yep.

It’s going back a few years, but the Broncos won a premiership with Shane Perry at 7. A guy who could barely crack first grade for the Maggies in 1999. You can get by with an average half if the other is an elite.

Didn't Knights have Sean Rudder at 6 when they won in 2001?

 

[TigerNeddyK]

Brooks copped the most. From Wests Tigers fans mostly.

Voldemort