OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

[clontarfkid]

All true.

We made the our season harder by releasing Galvin, Klemmer, Miller, Bateman, Da Silva and losing Olam to injury.

Olam was the only player there we replaced.

Thats the KEY issue
We let go Papali/Bateman /Klemmer and Galvin...without being replaced !!Wonder why we have no go forward?
.Benji couldnt work with them!!All of them,despite most being being seasoned internationals
Throw in Stefano and de Silva...
Problem is clearly the coach who has very inflexible management skills..its "my way or the highway.."
..and "I need to be home to have dinner with the family"..blah blah.Its not that sort of job
and its which is why he surrounds himself with 2005 team mates..hes comfy
Its a total facade predicated on the admiration by some of Benjis playing days.... 2 decades ago..plus the family thing
Our worst coaching decision ever,,,and thats saying a lot!

 

[Bellend]

Luai is one of our best most weeks organises the team and gets us around the park. Drives standards around the club. Is he worth 1.2m not a chance. That’s the price you have to pay now for that level half. It will be standard moving forward. We have cap space so we need to spend wisely.

We have to fix many things for our halves to be successful. We don’t do the simple things well because they are hard.

1. Kick pressure limiting kick metres
2. Defensive technique hit, stick and grapple
3. Line speed limiting metres
4 kick returns at speed
5. Outside backs to churn metres
6. Get Bula back and use two sides of the field.
7. Get Sam Fainu back and KPP next year to have strike on both edges.
8. We need more speed on the wings Makasini and May are my centres but we need to upgrade Skelton. Maybe not if the club knows Toa is busted. His form earlier was outstanding.
9. Lock position the biggest weak link for 2026. Don’t see a player on the roster capable.
10. Douihei is a 14 at best.
11. Get fit enough to do all the above for 80 minutes all year.
12. Some players are not quite able to elevate they have plateaued Bird, Twal, Seyfarth.

We are making progress but not enough for me. Throw in another prop as well however will reserve judgement if Hunt can get going.

Points 1 to 5 have been a problem the whole current season and should have been fixed by our coaching staff.

Who is going to put there hands up for the bad buys under Benji/Richo??

Luai is a solid first grader but he has been paid as if he is the next level up as a first grader and he is not and his level of skill shown so far this year is very disappointing. Yes he has improved team harmony and there is more account ability but that is about that.

 

[TYGA]

Points 1 to 5 have been a problem the whole current season and should have been fixed by our coaching staff.

Who is going to put there hands up for the bad buys under Benji/Richo??

Luai is a solid first grader but he has been paid as if he is the next level up as a first grader and he is not and his level of skill shown so far this year is very disappointing. Yes he has improved team harmony and there is more account ability but that is about that.

We are much better year on year but it takes time from where we were. Recruitment has had its hits and misses Luai, Turuva, May x 2 and given price Skelton were good signings. Bird and Hunt probably haven’t worked out. 5/7 isn’t bad. I also like KPP for next year. Beats the days we cried about Aloai and matterson leaving.

 

[Bellend]

Very true Tyga

 

[mtd#2]

If I try to find a positive in this..

Yeh.. idk wtf is happening here..

I hear ya... Just waiting for something to happen... But will it? Lol

 

[Hbom]

I know all players play with injury, but I heard second hand that Hunt has had a very rough time of it this year.

 

[king_sirro]

I know all players play with injury, but I heard second hand that Hunt has had a very rough time of it this year.

Well he should be getting it right rather than playing cup

 

[Tiger-ferret]

I know all players play with injury, but I heard second hand that Hunt has had a very rough time of it this year.

This rumor has popped up here before. Rib injury?

 

[innsaneink]

I dunno....from my memory during his time at Penrith he seemed to have all the time in the world to run when he wanted
Here, he seems rushed for time and space always

 

[innsaneink]

No way Panthers are going to pay him big $$ to return..theyve pretty much replaced what he once was,and is no longer
Perth need a big name.His destiny inevitably
He will be considered a non regrettable loss to WTs.A dissapointment
wtf happened to him?
Brooks 2.0

WTs...
Career killers

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

This rumor has popped up here before. Rib injury?

Can't see that rumour having any legs every time he's tackled he would be in pain and making it worse delaying recovery every time he played, send that through to the keeper.

 

[Mighty_Tiger]

I dunno....from my memory during his time at Penrith he seemed to have all the time in the world to run when he wanted
Here, he seems rushed for time and space always

It’s amazing what intent does.

Our forwards and even backs outside of Turuva maybe Pole/Fainu stop at the line for some reason and then they stand for a wrestle.

Any other team and they punch the line, get to the ground and rise quick play the ball setting the defending team always back 10mtrs+ giving halfs space.

We are pathetic at intent even our kick chase we offer zero outside of Bula. Results won’t change unless our coaching tactics re intent changes.

 

[Lukic]

Nothing has happened to Luai. He's the exact player he was now as he was at Penrith.

He's an average to above-average 5/8th who looked far better than he actually was playing an easy role on the best team of the modern era.

Every great team during the salary cap era has had to let players go here and there. But the one constant is, they've prioritised spine players, especially while young or in their prime.

The fact Penrith's offer was 2 years at 800k a year says it all. 27 year old 5/8th who's a part of a dynasty and they let him walk. Admittedly we came in with an absurd offer for a player of his quality, but them not even being in the ballpark is damning.

Yes our team on paper is lacking, but we're really poorly organised too. Part of that is on the coach, part of that on the halves and spine. Great halves should elevate the players around them, rather than rely on the players around them.

Melbourne is a great example. They throw in any random bloke into the forwards or backline, but they perform because Munster, Hughes and Grant have them so well organised. Historically was the case with Smith and Cronk. Your system and team starts with the spine and builds out. If your spine and halves especially aren't performing or giving you structure on the field, you're never achieving anything.

 

[upthetigers]

No way Panthers are going to pay him big $$ to return..theyve pretty much replaced what he once was,and is no longer
Perth need a big name.His destiny inevitably
He will be considered a non regrettable loss to WTs.A dissapointment
wtf happened to him?
Brooks 2.0

Perth are chasing Munster.

 

[Hbom]

This rumor has popped up here before. Rib injury?

Not sure. Mate overheard him at a Magpies game recently saying to another spectators that he was starting to be able to move more without pain.

 

[weststigerman]

Mooney seems like someone we should be targeting if he’s available.

I suppose we’re relying on Richo to be up to date and not busy dealing with the council over Campbelltown stadium.

 

[Vicious]

Mooney seems like someone we should be targeting if he’s available.

I suppose we’re relying on Richo to be up to date and not busy dealing with the council over Campbelltown stadium.

I sssume he works 8 hour days, surely he can do both ?

 

[weststigerman]

I sssume he works 8 hour days, surely he can do both ?

I’m sure he has a lot on his plate. Most clubs have dedicated teams for recruitment.

 

[InBenjiWeTrust]

Thats the KEY issue
We let go Papali/Bateman /Klemmer and Galvin...without being replaced !!Wonder why we have no go forward?
.Benji couldnt work with them!!All of them,despite most being being seasoned internationals
Throw in Stefano and de Silva...
Problem is clearly the coach who has very inflexible management skills..its "my way or the highway.."
..and "I need to be home to have dinner with the family"..blah blah.Its not that sort of job
and its which is why he surrounds himself with 2005 team mates..hes comfy
Its a total facade predicated on the admiration by some of Benjis playing days.... 2 decades ago..plus the family thing
Our worst coaching decision ever,,,and thats saying a lot!

IMHO, he is a billion times better option than Maquire and Jason Taylor!

 

[Demps]

IMHO, he is a billion times better option than Maquire and Jason Taylor!

Terrell & Turuva said on the podcast that what's portrayed in the media about Benji is false. He has time for all the players, both about the game and outside the game. Terrell said he's never had the support he's had like he does at the Tigers.