OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

[jadtiger]

‘Walk a day in my shoes’: Rival’s Luai jab as Tigers gun hits back; clubs react to kick-off shift — Daily

‘Walk a day in my shoes’: Rival’s Luai jab as Tigers gun hits back; clubs react to kick-off shift — Daily

www.foxsports.com.au

‘Walk a day in my shoes’: Rival’s Luai jab as Tigers gun hits back; clubs react to kick-off shift — Daily​

August 25th, 2026 12:08 pm
Wests Tigers co-captain Jarome Luai has delivered a blunt response to the critics who believe he has failed to live up to his big-money deal at the club.

Since making the move from the Panthers to the Tigers, the five-eighth has faced plenty of scrutiny over his performances.

Coming to the Tigers under huge expectations, he was expected to be play a leading role in the club’s rebuild and help transform them into a finals contender.

Instead he will depart after just two seasons, having agreed to join the Parramatta Eels in 2027 before moving to the PNG Chiefs the following season.

However, Luai has refused to be drawn into the criticism and believes those questioning his value should put themselves in his shoes.

“I don’t care, bro,” Luai told CODE Sports.

“Until those guys can come walk a day in my shoes and see if they can do it, see if they’re a better fit for it. That’s all right. We’re all entitled to our opinions.”

According to the SMH, former Tigers backrower John Bateman also liked a social media post from the Rugby League Insider about Luai being the NRL’s “most overpaid player ever”.

Luai also believes the Tigers’ win against the Sydney Roosters over the weekend can provide a much-needed confidence boost heading into the final two games of the season against the Cowboys and Panthers.

Interestingly, Luai could get a showdown against Bateman in Round 26, however he is in doubt due to a foot injury.

“Just shows what we can do, bro,” Luai added.

“Just believe in each other, and believe in what we’re doing in training.

“We’ve got two more games now, hopefully we can take this momentum into the next one.”



What an absolute flog. I can not wait to see the back of this peanut.

Typical comment from the most useless Pom (John Bateman) to ever play for WT Balmain or the Magpies,yes Romey has not been as succesful as we would like but he was still better than Bateman could ever hope to be as all he did was niggle on the field giving penalties away and cause disharmony in the squad.

 

[Tucker]

Typical comment from the most useless Pom (John Bateman) to ever play for WT Balmain or the Magpies,yes Romey has not been as succesful as we would like but he was still better than Bateman could ever hope to be as all he did was niggle on the field giving penalties away and cause disharmony in the squad.

How is that different to Jarome?

 

[Nasser]

He's always tried hard Jerome. People who say he is not trying have no idea. He is body on the line player. See him putting his body on the line more than all the other halves we have.

Unfortunately, he just probably isn't as good as many people hoped. Many of us probably saw this happening before, but yeah. At least he is respectful in interviews...answers questions well, does not bad mouth the club. 2 games to go, hopefully he ends okay and good luck in the future.

 

[rugbygoated]

He is a piece of manure and always has been.
I can’t wait to see the back of the loser.

You'd know a bit about that

 

[rugbygoated]

Typical comment from the most useless Pom (John Bateman) to ever play for WT Balmain or the Magpies,yes Romey has not been as succesful as we would like but he was still better than Bateman could ever hope to be as all he did was niggle on the field giving penalties away and cause disharmony in the squad.

Did Jarome break contract? Did he decide to join Parra next year or was it the club who forced him ? Was what he did to Galvin that bad (team first social media post)? There's a few things that are overexaggerated by a certain section of the rugby league community and they tend to congregate on a smoothbrain platform called Facebook

 

[rugbygoated]

I hope he takes that rotten culture with him, preferably lodged fair up his clacker. It is a myth.
We need to build a real one pronto so next year’s spoon doesn’t come our way.

We come from winning 3 spoons in a row and then will now miss it the last 2 years

 

[rugbygoated]

The culture we had when we were running 3rd? Things shifted when he said he was leaving, which to me is an indicator he was the leader. He was the reason for the positive change.

But, he was also the reason for the negative change. Everyone bought into what he sold. To then pack up and leave, it would have had huge implications on the dressing room.

Love or hate him, before he said he was leaving - he had the club on the up.

He is the scapegoat in the media. All season. Not the performances of the 16 other players. Only week it wasn't was when AD refused to play lock for a week. Only need to read some (maybe more than some) comments from the tryhard tall poppy wombats from yesteryear

 

[TrueTiger]

I only have one thing to say about JL...he was great surrounded by great players at Penrith,but having to work amongst young inexperienced players and reserve graders unfortunately found him out as an elite player...
Most elite players stand out and lead by example...

 

[Halbrowne61]

Did Jarome break contract? Did he decide to join Parra next year or was it the club who forced him ? Was what he did to Galvin that bad (team first social media post)? There's a few things that are overexaggerated by a certain section of the rugby league community and they tend to congregate on a smoothbrain platform called Facebook

No, but he did break his contract with us by negotiating/signing with the Chiefs. So much for our rebuild, the guys now à mercenary who says, I’ve won 4 rings and the Tigers are a basket case - may as well look after no 1.
Then we said, if your gunna go, then go now, so we did force him but only in retaliation for his disloyalty.
Look, I don’t blame any footballer for getting the best deal, I just think we got a raw deal on his exit clauses and by him making a big song and dance mid year about leaving knocked the stuffing out of our guys.
I guess the person(s) at fault are whoever agreed to those clauses, which I assume to be Benji and Richo. Bad negotiating imo.

 

[jadtiger]

Did Jarome break contract? Did he decide to join Parra next year or was it the club who forced him ? Was what he did to Galvin that bad (team first social media post)? There's a few things that are overexaggerated by a certain section of the rugby league community and they tend to congregate on a smoothbrain platform called Facebook

I didn't claim that he did break contract.

 

[Tiger_Yoshi]

The culture we had when we were running 3rd? Things shifted when he said he was leaving, which to me is an indicator he was the leader. He was the reason for the positive change.

But, he was also the reason for the negative change. Everyone bought into what he sold. To then pack up and leave, it would have had huge implications on the dressing room.

Love or hate him, before he said he was leaving - he had the club on the up.

Yep, sums it up nicely...We've had 2 players back to back seasons stuff our season, Galvin who he criticised and this year JL...who was comfortabhle doing what he did!!!!....

Had the chiefs not existed would Luai have left...nope....he is chasing the money and that means more to him than our club and his original commitment to the WT when he signed on for 5 years..

The dressing room simply switched off Luai once he signed with the Chiefs....the WT should've done the same..

 

[pawsandclaws1]

Luai leaving has worked out well for both parties. We have managed to re-sign some of our squad and hopefully we can retain the Fainu bros because the club won't be paying Luai's contract. He had a great contract with WTs but received an offer too good to refuse from the Chiefs. Life goes on and WTs has options in terms of who plays 6.

 

[Buttface]

Think 2006 and Scott Prince.
How to play in a tuxedo

No thanks. 🦯🦮👨‍🦯🧑‍🦯‍➡️

 

[tig_prmz]

He's always tried hard Jerome. People who say he is not trying have no idea. He is body on the line player. See him putting his body on the line more than all the other halves we have.

Unfortunately, he just probably isn't as good as many people hoped. Many of us probably saw this happening before, but yeah. At least he is respectful in interviews...answers questions well, does not bad mouth the club. 2 games to go, hopefully he ends okay and good luck in the future.

Yeh that's my impression too. He really does put his body on the line a lot with goal line D.

In saying that though, he's had some extremely poor efforts over the last 3 weeks.

I definitely do not begrudge him as much as most do here. We knew what we were getting when we bought him.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Typical comment from the most useless Pom (John Bateman) to ever play for WT Balmain or the Magpies,yes Romey has not been as succesful as we would like but he was still better than Bateman could ever hope to be as all he did was niggle on the field giving penalties away and cause disharmony in the squad.

More worried about his pavers being pinched from his back garden in Yorkshire than caring about showing up for the Tigers.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

Luai leaving has worked out well for both parties. We have managed to re-sign some of our squad and hopefully we can retain the Fainu bros because the club won't be paying Luai's contract. He had a great contract with WTs but received an offer too good to refuse from the Chiefs. Life goes on and WTs has options in terms of who plays 6.

Yeah I agree, him bailing early hurts in the short term, but it's a much better long term outcome if he was going to dish this shit up for the next 3 seasons.

 

[cktiger]

And of course, Ivan didn’t fight for him to stay ! That said something in itself, he weeded out several who wanted more money than they were worth eg Crichton, Burton, Luai, Korosau etc.

Well, he’d be doing even better with them.
Money was his only reason.

 

[tonza]

Well, he’d be doing even better with them.
Money was his only reason.

I would have moved as well if they offered twice the pay and the contract allowed it. He is setting his family up for the future. Dumb if he didn't.

 

[upthetigers]

Yeh that's my impression too. He really does put his body on the line a lot with goal line D.

In saying that though, he's had some extremely poor efforts over the last 3 weeks.

I definitely do not begrudge him as much as most do here. We knew what we were getting when we bought him.

I don't know if we did know what we were getting. Luai played halfback when Cleary was out and Penrith won games. I also heard that Luai was the better halfback then Cleary in juniors. We expected a lot more in terms of onfield performances. At least I did. I expected him to ice games for us.

 

[rugbygoated]

No, but he did break his contract with us by negotiating/signing with the Chiefs. So much for our rebuild, the guys now à mercenary who says, I’ve won 4 rings and the Tigers are a basket case - may as well look after no 1.
Then we said, if your gunna go, then go now, so we did force him but only in retaliation for his disloyalty.
Look, I don’t blame any footballer for getting the best deal, I just think we got a raw deal on his exit clauses and by him making a big song and dance mid year about leaving knocked the stuffing out of our guys.
I guess the person(s) at fault are whoever agreed to those clauses, which I assume to be Benji and Richo. Bad negotiating imo.

The issue with what you said is he didn't break contract. He signed a contract in his favour to stay for 5 years. First 2 years guaranteed contract. Last 3 player option. A contract is mutually binding. The club and Luai's management agreed to have a get out clause due to the instability of the club and better opportunities for himself such as this one. Given what happened last year with Richo and the constant HBG noise, that is true. The end date for that contractual agreement of the get out clause was April 30 and thus Luai had to act quick to make more money (as some hypocrites online hate to admit they'd do as well) because the opportunity would not last if another first signing came in before November. The PNG movement and tax free notion was a well known thing until then. Chammas as a journo was well aware of Luai's clause, as he has with signing players like Lomax and Joey Manu who are not currently in NRL so he can negotiate with them.

The I'm staying for life and team first message mid last year is where the issue is. Not the contract. Luai likely regrets saying that and probably did it at the time given media wouldn't stop going on about it as they did with Mitchell Moses when he had get out clauses at Parra.

The Galvin comparison is nowhere near similar. Lachlan requested multiple releases in his short time as a Tiger including when he was forced to play with a broken hand by Benji. The club offered him a long term deal on a million and he rejected it given his lack of belief in Benji and the club moving forward developing his game. This is where the club released a public statement which they should have kept privately (although probably tried to get on the front foot ahead of Isaac Moses) about Galvin rejecting the offer. The day after is an SMH story leaked by Moses about the dossier Galvin showed to Benji. What his teammates know or don't know in this story is unknown. Consequently, the day after Luai and Turuva bag Galvin online with Luai having a subtle team first post likely referring to a young Galvin's whether rightly or wrongly assessment of the face and soul of the club. Turuva's money reference is a bit more puzzling given Galvin is turning down big money. This then leads to alleged 'bullying' allegations. Again, we live in 2026 an bullying can be defined by different people but under the one common definition it is repeated harassment. Key word 'repeated'. Is the team first post harassment? Hardly. The money money one from Turuva? Perhaps. But it was posted privately and leaked. The bullying allegations are ultimately the leverage Galvin and Moses have against the Tigers to finally break out of contract and sign with the Bulldogs after a private meeting with Gus "Never met Galvin" Gould.

You can definitely blame the Luai distraction for a poor season compounding off the back of key injuries to key players all at a similar time after round 8, however it is not one man's fault for particularly senior players playing very poor week to week.

Another question is why hasn't Payne Haas been blamed for the Broncos going from premiers to 16th this year? Lost the world club challenge and their first 2 games. Then go on a bit of a winning run like the Tigers did. And then completely fall off mid season. Yes the obvious answer is Haas is playing better than Luai but both are leaving their clubs and both have had rough seasons. Both have had their clubs mutually agree to their departures.