OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

[cktiger]

He looked like a clueless rookie in the Tongan red zone, running around in circles as per normal. Defended very strongly? He defended at 63%…the worst return from any player on either team. It’s also arguable that he led them and most of his kicks that I saw were straight down the fullbacks throat. One try assist where the scorer did all the work is not good enough against poor opposition that your side flogged.
He is a decent player that has luckily gained elite status through being in the right place at the right time.

Well.. that’s horseshit.
Had a good game and controlled the way it went.
Ask any Samoan what they thought.
Seriously… you need to get over your dislike for the bloke.

 

[ancient_magpie]

Well.. that’s horseshit.
Had a good game and controlled the way it went.
Ask any Samoan what they thought.
Seriously… you need to get over your dislike for the bloke.

Tucker dislikes nearly everybody.

 

[orange&black]

He looked like a clueless rookie in the Tongan red zone, running around in circles as per normal. Defended very strongly? He defended at 63%…the worst return from any player on either team. It’s also arguable that he led them and most of his kicks that I saw were straight down the fullbacks throat. One try assist where the scorer did all the work is not good enough against poor opposition that your side flogged.
He is a decent player that has luckily gained elite status through being in the right place at the right time.

Can’t agree with your summation of his game - also didn’t seem to me like he missed over one third of his tackles. Actually thought he ran straighter than usual and kicked into the pocket often enabling Samoa to pin Tonga in their 30. He was doing plenty of talking and directing on the field and his own teammates referred to his leadership - I’m inclined to agree with them on this.

 

[Tucker]

Well.. that’s horseshit.
Had a good game and controlled the way it went.
Ask any Samoan what they thought.
Seriously… you need to get over your dislike for the bloke.

Garbage. Watch the game, he does bugger all.

 

[Tucker]

Can’t agree with your summation of his game - also didn’t seem to me like he missed over one third of his tackles. Actually thought he ran straighter than usual and kicked into the pocket often enabling Samoa to pin Tonga in their 30. He was doing plenty of talking and directing on the field and his own teammates referred to his leadership - I’m inclined to agree with them on this.

That’s perfectly fine.
We all see things differently.
The way he plays does not impress me

 

[Tom Shines]

I didn’t watch the 20 mins after the delay …so can’t comment on that part of the game …

Prior to that though …I think you would have to have some bias on the guy to say he played poor… I thought he was adequate and his kicking game was good- better than we have seen in the regular season for us …

Overall … both sides weren’t great …Samoa had the advantage of playing last week , and Tonga looked exactly like it was their first game playing together in 12 months

 

[TigerJunior4]

I didn’t watch the last 20 either but I thought Luai was good and clearly outplayed Katoa (who I’m a huge fan of).

Kicking game was good, directed well and created opportunities. Took the right option most of the time.

He was much improved on his game against NZ. Thought he was poor then.

 

[gregjm87]

I didnt think he had an eternity for his kicks...tonga knew he was doing almost all the kicking they didnt make it easy for him

Feel free to time stamp any times he had defenders in his face, taking him to ground after the kick, or didn't kick of the front foot.

 

[TIGERS]

Tucker dislikes nearly everybody.

Umm. Like every other topic on here, Tucker said this exact same thing way before you did. Keep up. lol.

 

[watersider]

Sad to see you lock in on Luai, @Tucker as you usually get these right when you critique a player. Do you see much positive in his play? Given up on him?

 

[gregjm87]

I didn’t watch the 20 mins after the delay …so can’t comment on that part of the game …

Prior to that though …I think you would have to have some bias on the guy to say he played poor… I thought he was adequate and his kicking game was good- better than we have seen in the regular season for us …

Overall … both sides weren’t great …Samoa had the advantage of playing last week , and Tonga looked exactly like it was their first game playing together in 12 months

Yeah I don't think he was poor at all. Adequate is probably a good description.
I see where Tucker is coming from. Samoa dominated possession and territory for most the first half (and game) and had just the two tries to show from it. One was a bit of ball playing from Paulo that still required his outside men to do plenty to cross the line. The other a nice kick from Luai, somewhere between a chip and a bomb, for Nanai to chase through pluck out of the air and score.
For all the possession, territory and ruck dominance Samoa hardly ever looked like breaking down the Tongan line. The halfback (and coach given they had no attacking shape to work with) needs to own that. I commented at half time in the game and no-one pushed back on the comment.

So, Excellent first half in terms of direction. Quality kicking, though I also stand by he had plenty of time and rarely kicking from his own half. But very little offered in terms of ball playing and creativity (which I believe is Tucker's main criticism). I also thought Samoa would need more from him if Tonga could start completing their sets.

3rd quarter was much the same from Luai. Direction and kicked well in the same circumstances. He himself did little with the ball. The only try was Talagi running to the line, blindly throws it out the back. Luai picked it up shoveling it on to Nanai who kicked for himself and scored.

4th quarter Luai was the one who created the space for Talagi to tip on to Taulagi to score. It was this type of creativity that was absent the whole game until that point. Not just for points but absent completely. So, I do see the grounds for Tucker's criticism, particularly considering the dominance Samoa had.
The two other tries coming from the forwards.

Despite showing very little as a ball player I don't think Luai had a bad game at all. Directed well, kicked well and just did what was needed. I also think a 7 doing only what was needed and not looking to unnecessarily put his own mark on the game is a quality that should be commended.

 

[Telltails]

Luai did his job. Great combo with Jnr Paulo. Katoa - arguably the best 7 form wise in the comp this season - in a squad laden with plenty of talent was poor.

 

[innsaneink]

Feel free to time stamp any times he had defenders in his face, taking him to ground after the kick, or didn't kick of the front foot.

Lol
Ill let you do that...im not watching it all agin and taking notes because you have a problem with my opinion...lol.....or you have a problem with Luai which a few sadly do here....jesus mate are we playing for fkn sheep stations?

 

[TIGERS]

Lol
Ill let you do that...im not watching it all agin and taking notes because you have a problem with my opinion...lol.....or you have a problem with Luai which a few sadly do here....jesus mate are we playing for fkn sheep stations?

bloody hell I haven't heard that idiom for a while. hahaha

 

[tig_prmz]

I don't mind the description "adequate".

But for someone on $1.2m, adequate at best isn't enough. I'd even take adequate for majority of the season and brilliant for 4-5 games a season.

There is absolutely no doubt that Luai is not producing on the field that you would expect for an Origin half.

I am with Tucker and Greg that Samoa had Paulo and Haas absolutely dominating the middle and Luai had so many options, I feel it should've been a 50+ scoreline with 4-5 try assists. The one try assist he had was Nanai's freakish skills.

All that being said, we have him here for 5 years whether we like it or not and whether Luai likes it or not. No one is paying $1.2m for him to play the way he has been. The other big reason of $1.2m is getting the likes of Mays, Fainus, Bula etc to stay with the club, hopefully not for overs. You can see in his interviews and in the way he plays how professional he is. His kick chase, ability to get behind the ball, follow the ball etc is top notch.

It's a shame that he has lost what he had as a creative half a couple of years ago.

 

[Winston Churchill]

Jerry produces shit all for the money he is on and for the size of the blokes 4 ring ego earned purely off the back of Cleary his entire career.

Did sweet FA for the Tigers this year.

Couldnt have scored against an under 8 team most games he played this year. Clueless in attack.

End of story.

 

[twentyforty]

Jerry produces shit all for the money he is on and for the size of the blokes 4 ring ego earned purely off the back of Cleary his entire career.

Did sweet FA for the Tigers this year.

Couldnt have scored against an under 8 team most games he played this year. Clueless in attack.

End of story.

I have posted previously that Luke Brooks would have been far better value.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Luai, I hear you guys we all expected more from him this season but will give him another off season to blend with the team better.

The halves disruption didn't help and slotting into a new team is obviously taking longer than any of us wanted.
But if he's the quality player we hope he is, next season is a must deliver.

 

[Telltails]

Geezus - this is not an individual sport. No player gives value at 1,2=mil. without equally good or better players around them. Hence why the current premiers and runner ups a laden with quality players.

 

[Halbrowne61]

I have posted previously that Luke Brooks would have been far better value.

Luke who ?