OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

[Tiger Stripes]

I agree with you in some measure, its far easier to comment on a past event than it is to predict a future event. However, for those deeply involved in the game there’s not a lot of difference between making predictions and doing things which contribute to that outcome.

We predicted Brooks would be hopeless and offered him only $450k. He got $650k at Manly and we found he gave them a great season. It was so good that we congratulated him for playing finals footy.

We also predicted that if we paid three times the amount for the Penrith 6 and play him as a 7 we would be far better off. Just saying. If Brooks was handled better we probably would be just as well off.

We need a top-notch half. Just can't jag one. Madden was the best available, I guess.
AD made a go of it until injured. Had the smarts and a long kicking game.
Fingers crossed how it works out in the off season, but specialist halves are hard to find AND even harder to manufacture.
We keep getting 5/8's and try to turn them into halves. Not quite the same.

 

[GNR4LIFE]

We need a top-notch half. Just can't jag one. Madden was the best available, I guess.
AD made a go of it until injured. Had the smarts and a long kicking game.
Fingers crossed how it works out in the off season, but specialist halves are hard to find AND even harder to manufacture.
We keep getting 5/8's and try to turn them into halves. Not quite the same.

What do you mean we can’t jag one? Luai is one. And Fainu is a very good prospect if he can ever stay fit. Halves aren’t positions that you go out and spend huge money on every year. You pick and stick, and we’ve picked. Unfortunately with our powder puff forward pack, and weak coaching, the halves can’t be miracle workers.

 

[Tiger Stripes]

With Bula, Luai and Api in the spine, our structures most of the time was appalling. That’s on the coaching.

Who's the half or 5/8 in your spine. Someone missing there, hence a problem.
Must be the coach's fault the troops failed?

 

[GNR4LIFE]

Who's the half or 5/8 in your spine. Someone missing there, hence a problem.
Must be the coach's fault the troops failed?

I think you’re the one missing something.

6. Luai
7. Fainu

And even if you were on to something, not having a proper 7 would fall on to the coach.

 

[Tiger_claws]

had a great game. his kicking was the difference

All the critics I've noticed of Luai are comparing his contract value to his on-field delivery this season. It's getting a bit tiresome.

Ponder this ...

If we didn't sign Luai, who were going to sign to reset our squad towards a successful future?

What about the impact that Luai has had on our playing roster as a culture leader? Every single WT player I have heard interviewed about him has commented how he has almost single-handedly changed the culture of the playing group!

What about the impact that Luai has had on the marketing of our club & even the culture of our staff with his personality and leadership?

Ok so Luai hasn't been a match-winner or broken a game open this season, just remember it's the 1st season he's played with most of our players & in our system disrupted by a major mid-season issue.

Let's see how he grows with this team and plays off the back of an improved forward pack and with his combo with Samuela & Taylan on the left.

We're a bitter & twisted fanbase and rightly so but give the guy a break, he's done more for this club in 12 months than 99% of players in our club over the past decade.

He didn't bring in the Fainus nor is there any indication he played a role in KPP.

He reportedly played a role in bringing in Terrell who then helped land Taylan so I'll give him credit for the Mays. Though I think Roosters cutting Terrell when they did (after other clubs had filled their roster) did us more favours than Luai as we had minimal competition for his signature.

People also like to attribute Turuva to him (there is an obvious connection there so fair enough) but I think we've overpaid for Turuva and for what we offered he wouldn't have been looking anywhere else (and, yes, that is just my opinion and I seem to be on my own on here with that).

Just letting you know Dragons offered him more.

 

[Winston Churchill]

Get your hands off it. The whole "hes changing the culture" BS is nauseating. He aint changed dick. The team failed this year to win a 4th straight wooden spoon. Shit, I guess we better fold it now while we are ahead. 15 years of it being drummed into your heads you are losers has done wonders to peoples self esteem. Accept mediocrity at all costs. Not making the 8 is a complete failure for a pro league team paying players millions a year to attend the gym all week and put in 80mins of work when most people get paid under a 100K a year for a 40-50hr work week.

The guy who we purchased way overs for as our much needed attacking weapon couldn't score a try or set up any attacking play all year, it was embarrassing for a supposed marquee signing, I might as well have been playing with the controller unplugged. He threatened the goal line about as much as a strongly worded email.

As for the whole 'changing the culture' trope, the jury is a long way out on that. Ill await the top 8 finishes and the further marquee signings he brings in. At the moment he aint done jack shit and has a whole lot to prove that he wasn't just Clearys little B.

Now sperg out and let the mediocrity defenders have a whine. Go

 

[tig_prmz]

It’s important to have a good culture. No one likes working in a toxic environment.
That said, for mine it shouldn’t be the only focus unless it is working hand in hand with strategic playing goals. For example “the dogs of war” that Canterbury once built.
Is the culture being built here going to have similar outcomes? Arguably, this culture has helped expedite the departure of some good young talent, so I remain sceptical.

The word "culture" has too many connotations to it.

To me, Luai instills professionalism. When to train, when to let go, when to get at 110%. Off field, you get your diet, lifestyle changes, constant stretching, constantly doing stability exercises, hwo to zone out or zone in. All these things, it's very difficult to learn at WT because we don't have elite S&C staff, sports psychs, experienced coaches etc so you need to rely on your playing leadership group.

Is Luai actually doing it? I don't know. But you look at guys like Terrell May, Turuva and even Douehi. They had their best year this year. It's not because of Luai- but with him there is a "cultural shift".

 

[Vicious]

Get your hands off it. The whole "hes changing the culture" BS is nauseating. He aint changed dick. The team failed this year to win a 4th straight wooden spoon. Shit, I guess we better fold it now while we are ahead. 15 years of it being drummed into your heads you are losers has done wonders to peoples self esteem. Accept mediocrity at all costs. Not making the 8 is a complete failure for a pro league team paying players millions a year to attend the gym all week and put in 80mins of work when most people get paid under a 100K a year for a 40-50hr work week.

The guy who we purchased way overs for as our much needed attacking weapon couldn't score a try or set up any attacking play all year, it was embarrassing for a supposed marquee signing, I might as well have been playing with the controller unplugged. He threatened the goal line about as much as a strongly worded email.

As for the whole 'changing the culture' trope, the jury is a long way out on that. Ill await the top 8 finishes and the further marquee signings he brings in. At the moment he aint done jack shit and has a whole lot to prove that he wasn't just Clearys little B.

Now sperg out and let the mediocrity defenders have a whine. Go

2026 will be a season where ‘Actions need to speak louder than words’

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Get your hands off it. The whole "hes changing the culture" BS is nauseating. He aint changed dick. The team failed this year to win a 4th straight wooden spoon. Shit, I guess we better fold it now while we are ahead. 15 years of it being drummed into your heads you are losers has done wonders to peoples self esteem. Accept mediocrity at all costs. Not making the 8 is a complete failure for a pro league team paying players millions a year to attend the gym all week and put in 80mins of work when most people get paid under a 100K a year for a 40-50hr work week.

The guy who we purchased way overs for as our much needed attacking weapon couldn't score a try or set up any attacking play all year, it was embarrassing for a supposed marquee signing, I might as well have been playing with the controller unplugged. He threatened the goal line about as much as a strongly worded email.

As for the whole 'changing the culture' trope, the jury is a long way out on that. Ill await the top 8 finishes and the further marquee signings he brings in. At the moment he aint done jack shit and has a whole lot to prove that he wasn't just Clearys little B.

Now sperg out and let the mediocrity defenders have a whine. Go

You didn't hold back Winston, used both barrels, do you want him gone now or will you give him another season to prove his worth.

 

[Winston Churchill]

You didn't hold back Winston, used both barrels, do you want him gone now or will you give him another season to prove his worth.

I did hold back.

I don't want him gone, he is elite in a shitty Tigers team but I'm sick and tired of the simps thinking he's the second coming of Jesus. The bloke hasn't done a damn thing for Tigers and people on here want his babies. As prmz says a couple posts above, he is part of a changing culture, a very small part. Id argue, May bros bring more to the table than Jerry at this stage, he has brought nothing to the field. Talk is cheap.

will you give him another season to prove his worth.

He has 26 to really step up and actually play to that inflated ego or he can look for somewhere else in 27. Put his big boy pants on or piss off to the Saints along with 18 holes Benji.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

I did hold back.

I don't want him gone, he is elite in a shitty Tigers team but I'm sick and tired of the simps thinking he's the second coming of Jesus. The bloke hasn't done a damn thing for Tigers and people on here want his babies. As prmz says a couple posts above, he is part of a changing culture, a very small part. Id argue, May bros bring more to the table than Jerry at this stage, he has brought nothing to the field. Talk is cheap.

will you give him another season to prove his worth.

He has 26 to really step up and actually play to that inflated ego or he can look for somewhere else in 27. Put his big boy pants on or piss off to the Saints along with 18 holes Benji.

I think deep down most of the staunch followers know his season didn't scorch the turf, they are just blinded by wanting the team to succeed.

I think there's a solution to his problem, it's the hair he needs to hit the old school barber shop and cop a no.1 mow down, remove the lair factor and maybe his game will evolve and hopefully he will feed the support more than just jumping around like an amorous bullfrog.

OK I'll shut up now

 

[Needaname]

IMO Luai really looked a world class conductor leading that Samoa side.
I really hope we double down on his and Benji’s thoughts of making him the main guy. With the right prep and skill training (mostly kick timing and placement) Luai could be a really influential halfback in our team. I don’t support putting the pressure on Latu to be the 7. Douiehi maybe but that’s a stop gap. Has to be Luai main man and the rest as the supporting cast!

 

[old_man_tiger]

Look at the first samoa game, he set up multiple match winning opportunities and his team mates fluffed them.
In several games we needed to see that from him in big moments, especially in the 4 close games during our long losing streak. NSW needed it too.

So - it's good to see in this tournament that he can do it, but we need to see it consistently for us.

Being balanced as I can, the year for me was a pass mark, mostly because of his defensive attitude and short kicking but you're looking for your marquee guy to do more than earn a pass. Everyone in the NRL needs to improve to keep up with the competition, so if we get the same "ok ish" performances next year then it's a fail overall.

 

[rugbygoated]

No one is arguing against his achievements. No one. I and others said he could thank Cleary for his status and I am yet to see a compelling argument against that.
It’s such a banal point to make. Do you not understand the conversation being had?
We are debating WHAT HE HAS DONE AT THIS CLUB.

Which is why it was confusing to see you bring up his past and diminish that. He has been terrible imo, but it's only one year, under a rookie coach, a 3 peat wooden spoon winning team, with lots of pressure on his shoulders, in a position he hasn't played regularly before, with a big distraction mid season that he was heavily involved in (Galvin). I expect a lot better, in fact there is an argument Luke Brooks would be offering the same if not better, but form is temporary, class is permanent

 

[gregjm87]

Just letting you know Dragons offered him more.

Who?

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

Who?

Turuva

 

[rugbygoated]

It’s important to have a good culture. No one likes working in a toxic environment.
That said, for mine it shouldn’t be the only focus unless it is working hand in hand with strategic playing goals. For example “the dogs of war” that Canterbury once built.
Is the culture being built here going to have similar outcomes? Arguably, this culture has helped expedite the departure of some good young talent, so I remain sceptical.

Losing a narcissist is not a negative, especially when you consider the alternative was keeping him here long term on a million dollars when he hasn't earn it

 

[gregjm87]

Turuva

Ah ok, fair enough. I thought he was talking about KPP. I thought why would Dragons want him. Not that I'm knocking KPP at all, just Dragons have backrowers.

Just done a search however. I'm not sure they did offer more though it certainly appears they didn't offer any less. Were reported paying 1.3m over 3 years so 433k/year. Dragons reportedly offered him 'nearly 100k more' than 350k (Panthers reported offer) and also 3 years. Seems about the same.

 

[rugbygoated]

I think deep down most of the staunch followers know his season didn't scorch the turf, they are just blinded by wanting the team to succeed.

I think there's a solution to his problem, it's the hair he needs to hit the old school barber shop and cop a no.1 mow down, remove the lair factor and maybe his game will evolve and hopefully he will feed the support more than just jumping around like an amorous bullfrog.

OK I'll shut up now

I think he's stopped being a 'lair' on the field this year. He's got the odd discipline issues with giving away 6 agains and some dumb decisions particularly the middle of the year but he's dropped the grubby acts he used to get away with at penrith. I think he is much better when talking in front of a mic now than he was before

 

[Tucker]

Losing a narcissist is not a negative, especially when you consider the alternative was keeping him here long term on a million dollars when he hasn't earn it

Are you talking about Luai?