Funnel Webb
Member
No he's just objectively not a good player.
OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295
- Thread starter Frecal
- Start date
upthetigers
Well-known member
He doesn't win games for us, which is what you'd expect for the coin he is on. Look at what Teddy did on the weekend, takes ownership of the result and single handedly won the roosters the game. Even Bula isn't worth the coin he is wanting but that's a topic that's been discussed to death.
Funnel Webb
Member
Teams have second choice fullbacks that are better than Bula. I would rather "downgrade" to some teams second choice fullback for like $600k than pay $950k or whatever it is for Bula. Coach them to do all the basics that he's only just starting to pick up now like always be there in support with line breaks etc.
You are setting yourself up for constant disappointment if you think any player will single handedly win you games.
We finally have a squad who together have had us in a position to win each game they have played in. The last thing any team needs is to be reliant on their highest paid player or make them accountable for wins/losses because no player will meet that expectation nor should they. The market is the market if you want attract quality you have to pay for it.
Even the best players don't always deliver when you need them to - Adam Reynolds knows that better than most.
We finally have a squad who together have had us in a position to win each game they have played in. The last thing any team needs is to be reliant on their highest paid player or make them accountable for wins/losses because no player will meet that expectation nor should they. The market is the market if you want attract quality you have to pay for it.
Even the best players don't always deliver when you need them to - Adam Reynolds knows that better than most.
Funnel Webb
Member
But he's our captain on $1.2 million a season, if the team goes backwards as soon as he comes back and their attack disappears it's a little concerning. That's normally something that doesn't happen with players of that price tag, it's usually the opposite.
Chunk
Well-known member
Yeah we were running downhill against the Cowboys, it was the other two games were he needed to earn his pay packet.
He showed glimpses of it last year and at Penrith, hopefully we'll see more of it.
Chunk
Well-known member
No doubt its concerning but we have to back him though, we have no choice, he's won comps and SOO's so we can't right him off.
Betterdays22
Well-known member
You kind of need to forget about his salary or you will be perpetually disappointed. There are very few players who would earn that salary based purely on their on field performance.
He does need to be better, but the sample size for 2026 is too small to be making any big decisions
Funnel Webb
Member
We do have a choice, he has a get out clause if he's unhappy not playing. Team first. We don't have to back a player that hasn't gotten us any results his whole time of being here then we magically get them with another player.
Tiger-ferret
Well-known member
Yeah that would go down well with the playing roster...
You can only attack as well as the opposition allows you to. Did you watch Nathan Cleary in the Bulldogs game - surrounded by his top line squad? Totally smothered out of the game made no one look good around him and the team as a whole completely outplayed. It happens.
Luai has had one outstanding game and came off injured in another up until Bronco's game. I think it's a bit early for the coach to be writing him off for Jock who I can assure at some point will find himself on the backend of the scoreboard. Its a good position to be in and proved to be smart recruitment from Benji.
TigerNeddyK
Well-known member
That is an absolutely ignorant comment.. an “objectively not s good player” does not play state of origin, does not play 5 grand finals, play World Cup finals, and earn 1.2 million a year at an NRL club and captain a team and be admired by his team mates..
Funnel Webb
Member
They can eat some concrete and harden up. They're on an average yearly salary of $450k between the 30 of them. They're professional athletes in the NRL, this isn't highschool dynamics. I'm more so thinking of the best and most efficient way to win 13 games in a row than peoples feelings. They happen to play better with a different player, this is the NRL.
Rock Hopper Steve
Well-known member
We can't move him on he's too popular with the squad, the team has finally developed a culture after more than a decade and would put it back in jeopardy.
Benji has to find a way for it to work, he needs to put Jock back at 7 to see if that gives Luai more room to move, when he gets the ball flat, that's when we see the annoying jumping around like a headless chook.
I like the idea of moving Adam to the centres in defense and roving position in attack looking for gaps/overlaps.
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Funnel Webb
Member
So being admired because he's at a club with all of his old mates makes him a good player? Played 5 grand finals with Nathan Cleary steering the ship then came to us and did nothing (they're a better side now with Talagi than they were with Luai.) Is overpaid on $1.2 million (Ivan Cleary thought he was worth no more than $700k.) Played State of Origins off the back of Cleary and sticking with what worked with Penrith (he won't be there in the future.)
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Funnel Webb
Member
What I replied to @Tiger-ferret
TigerNeddyK
Well-known member
Omg mate,, he wouldn’t have been in the team at all if he was not a good player, they would have picked a different player to be 6 instead of Luai.. can you not work that out ? Ivan Cleary and every other coach of every team Luai has ever played for had the choice of every other player that played in his position and chose him.. are you saying that Cleary has no idea ? Benji and richo signed him for Tigers , are you saying they chose an objectively bad player to pay 1.2 million to? Fittler, Madge , Daley , the nsw selectors ? The Samoa selectors all just picked a 5/8 that can’t play footy to be the 6… Jesus mate they all have no idea but funnel web on the internet judges a 5/8 better than all of those people that picked a player that cannot play to represent their NRL and rep rugby league teams just becsue they liked him as a person? That will do me … 😅😂🤣🤣
HUNT 101
Well-known member
For that Broncos game you Muppet
Funnel Webb
Member
They picked Luai in State of Origin because the Penrith formula was working so well and didn't want Cleary to have to spend time building a connection with a different five-eighth, it's really that simple. It was even painted that way in the media and the selectors openly stated that was a big part of their decision. Now it's going to be Talagi in Origin with Cleary. And no offence to Samoa but who else would they pick at five-eighth? Yeah he's Samoa's best five-eighth but it's not like they had many more options, well they do now because Talagi is a better player. Lolohea was playing for Tonga last I checked, is he a good player? And yes I am saying Benji and Richo chose an objectively bad player to pay $1.2 million to, the same way Cronulla did with Hynes and anyone that watches football knows that Hynes should have his pay packet swapped with Trindall.
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