OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

[gregjm87]

Hint - he got man of the match and didn't start there!

I can only assume you are trying to claim the Dogs game. It's the only man of the match performance in a game Toa didn't play.
He didn't defend between Turuva and Luai in that game. Even if he had of (which he didn't) 10 minutes in round 23 is hardly the reason for his improved defence in the previous 22 rounds.
For the record when Doueihi got moved to right centre in the reshuffle, Turuva went to the left wing and Luai remained at left half.

 

[Tim Sheens]

I’ll say this with lots of confidence…. It wasn’t his fault the Blues lost the series this year …

Though that he was called up at all, even just to extend the squad, screams of there being big issues amongst the coaching hierarchy.

 

[Halbrowne61]

I think we are overlooking the elephant in the room. Who is our 13 and who is the next man up?

AD can't be in the picture as our long term 7 so should be well into the process of bulking up to take on a ball playing 13's job. If he isn't we have a pretty big hole in our starting 13 with a backup plan that is uninspiring (Twal).

The time when we looked most potent this year was with AD at 7.
I fully understand your points re 13 but just don't think he’s the man for that ( bulked up or not).
I’m still trying to wrap my head around our re-signing of Madden ? That seems bizarre to me !

 

[jstigers]

I think we are overlooking the elephant in the room. Who is our 13 and who is the next man up?

AD can't be in the picture as our long term 7 so should be well into the process of bulking up to take on a ball playing 13's job. If he isn't we have a pretty big hole in our starting 13 with a backup plan that is uninspiring (Twal).

Sione will be our 13 next year, rotating with Latu when he is back

 

[BlackWhiteGold]

Sione will be our 13 next year, rotating with Latu when he is back

Opinion or inside info?

IMO Sione is the one who could eveolve into a very good #13 with his footwork at the line, ball playing, decent speed, fitness & has a good passing game for a big man.

 

[Tim Sheens]

Then why is he in the roster given we have not purchased any 13s? We have a serious hole in that position and we have recruited well agaisnt all of the other deficiencies, plus a couple of additional halves.

The Madden signing seems to indicate Marshall is going to continue his want of Doueihi wearing the 13 in a distribution/ball playing role.

As to Luai, overall, he has brought plenty to the club. Yet despite the obvious problems from pre-season with Galvin and coaches instructions, his $ required bringing a little more with ball in hand.

Still, when judging him on field at WT thus far, as well as both he and Cleary at Penrith, it should include the freedom that the immense contribution ot Yeo brings there and the lack of anything remotely similar here.

Hopefully Adam or another can bring a similar point of difference that allows the whole spine to prosper next season.

 

[Needaname]

But imo 6 is his best position for us.
I think (hope) Benji may start next season with AD at 7 and JL at 6 and young Fainu at 14 but that remains to be seen.

I think you’re saying that because you’ve been spoilt seeing Jarome outside of Cleary all those years.
Luai is a world class playmaker why make him the second fiddle? I remember a similar argument back in 2012 when we moved Marshall to 7 after releasing Lui.
Marshall handled 7 and had a handy stat sheet to back it up that year, the team as a whole dropped the ball but it wasn’t because Marshall couldn’t steer a team.
A couple of years later he steered St George into the finals alongside Widdop.
It’s about touches. Luai with more touches makes us more dangerous. I like Latu close to the action and he does play straigher then Luai does, so long term he might get there but in the meantime I’m letting the senior guy take control.

 

[Jolls]

The time when we looked most potent this year was with AD at 7.
I fully understand your points re 13 but just don't think he’s the man for that ( bulked up or not).
I’m still trying to wrap my head around our re-signing of Madden ? That seems bizarre to me !

Hal,

My reasoning is the recruitment of Madden on a two year deal. It is the only scenario that seems to make sense. In addtion to Madden we also have Javron Andrews on a dev deal this year and top 30 for the following two years and Latu/Luia already annointed at the long term plan.

While Jock hasn't set the world on fire he has developed into a capable half. I did not have him on my radar at all; but prior to Hunt's arrival at Brisbane he was touted as being Reynold's successor. With Hunt on the scene he spent 2025 in Q Cup so we can't really use those stats for as a guide. However, his 2024 NRL stats are a good indicator of his NRL capability. He averaged, 331 kick meters, 51 running meters and defended at 87.38% effectiveness.

When AD played as a half for 80 minutes this season he averaged: 225 kick meters, 154 running meters and defended at 75.24% effectiveness.

In relation to the kicking game Luai averaged  269.9 m per game and Latu 99.4 m per game. So Madden's kicking alone would make a difference to pur side.

I know stats aren't everything but I personally think that Madden is a better half than AD in all aspect of the game. He has the composure needed to direct a team around the park but he isn't going to tear sides apart by himslef - but does he need to with the way we are building?

To me AD is closer to a Yeo than a Cleary. He can be an agressive runner of the footy and has the ball playing ability to transition. Is he a big risk? Too right - but given the paucity of 13s in our roster - he makes the most sense to fill the void. Him playing that role in FG and Bird in Cup is the logical move and they can both play a similar style with the addtional ability to provide utility cover without having to carry a dedicated utility on the bench.

Is that how Benji sees it? God only knows - but it is certainly how I would be playing it.

He is probably a better game manager than AD or Latu and has more consistent execution.

 

[Jolls]

The Madden signing seems to indicate Marshall is going to continue his want of Doueihi wearing the 13 in a distribution/ball playing role.

As to Luai, overall, he has brought plenty to the club. Yet despite the obvious problems from pre-season with Galvin and coaches instructions, his $ required bringing a little more with ball in hand.

Still, when judging him on field at WT thus far, as well as both he and Cleary at Penrith, it should include the freedom that the immense contribution ot Yeo brings there and the lack of anything remotely similar here.

Hopefully Adam or another can bring a similar point of difference that allows the whole spine to prosper next season.

It looks like you and I are on the same page; I wonder if Benji is?

 

[Jolls]

Sione will be our 13 next year, rotating with Latu when he is back

That is a big call. I don't see it myself but it is a possibility.

Is that a gut feel or do you have some inside info?

 

[Fainu Brothers]

I think we are overlooking the elephant in the room. Who is our 13 and who is the next man up?

AD can't be in the picture as our long term 7 so should be well into the process of bulking up to take on a ball playing 13's job. If he isn't we have a pretty big hole in our starting 13 with a backup plan that is uninspiring (Twal).

AD should be starting 7 until he is pushed put by Latu. We didnt win a game after Douhei got injured

 

[Fainu Brothers]

Sione will be our 13 next year, rotating with Latu when he is back

If Sione has another massive preseason would love to see it. Latu coming on and adding that extra ball player in the middle and straightening the attack has been when we have looked the best

 

[Jolls]

AD should be starting 7 until he is pushed put by Latu. We didnt win a game after Douhei got injured

Fortunately we aren't palying the 2025 season again. With the upgraded roster I don't see it panning out that way given the investments that have been made.

The resoning is laid out a couple of posts up: https://weststigersforum.com/threads/jarome-luai-295.35395/post-2193519

 

[Tim Sheens]

It looks like you and I are on the same page; I wonder if Benji is?

Yeah, and your inreased depth with the stats pretty well backed up the opinion of my eyes. Doueihi has improved massively in defence this year, well at least when playing at centre, and particularly when outside of Luai.

Trouble is he still really gets caught out in the decision making area required by halves with options running at him on the edge. Whereas he has less of a problem coping with the physicality closer to the middle, but will need to pick up his marker play.

 

[Rock Hopper Steve]

Fortunately we aren't palying the 2025 season again. With the upgraded roster I don't see it panning out that way given the investments that have been made.

The resoning is laid out a couple of posts up: https://weststigersforum.com/threads/jarome-luai-295.35395/post-2193519

We will know Benji's intentions for Doueihi when he plays in the trials Jolls if he comes back bulked up it will signal he's headed for lock, if he's still lean it would point to having 7 still in mind.

Questions over Latu's body, how well Madden fits back into the system, there's a good chance Adam could start the season at 7 and I don't mind it he was warming to the task before he had his head buzzed by a runaway truck.