Jarome Luai

[AmericanHistoryX]

Thats the good news Flip.

 

[Ecto-1]

Yeah I was mainly referring to 2024 and the rumours/inside info that Luai is supposed to be coming here next season. Benji has basically squashed that rumour. What happens beyond next season, who knows?

Benji also said that he is not going to comment on recruitment because that can screw up deals. So the whole Luai is not a priority thing could be a misdirect.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Who is the informant?

 

[SeanT]

Agreed. He will be disruptive here and likely cause a lot of drama behind the scenes.

We are back to back wooden spooners. Does it really matter if hes disruptive haha

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

We are back to back wooden spooners. Does it really matter if hes disruptive haha

Cant lose here. Just financially. Great point. Both of ya.

 

[rugbygoated]

I have strong mail from one of the Penrith media crew that the reason Ivan publicly talked down Luai was because he's unhappy that Luai confirmed Nathan's relationship with Mary Fowler before anyone else on the Kyle and Jackie O Show. This happened in September.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

The Star Enquirer?

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Scientology?

 

[rugbygoated]

Why do a lot of people on this forum think we'll sign Luai? I honestly can't see it happening.

Does anyone have actual inside news, or is this just another Latrell / Munster fantasy?

it's a lot more realistic than those two. Luai has just won 3 premierships, already bought his family a nice mansion, and has a point to prove. From here on, if he stays at penrith even if he wins the next 3 premierships (takes the 850K 2 year contract) he will still have the legacy of being carried. No matter what. I could not see Munster at a Sydney team (except maybe Roosters) and only really Dolphins offerred him over a million. Tigers were never a realistic option. Latrell to Souths was always the logical option. He was very young (only 22 I think) when he signed. Luai is mid-20s and already has enough success to find a long term contract and enough money to have some stability and assurance that he made the best choice for himself and his family, not the Penrith club

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Luai is a Munster.

 

[rugbygoated]

Luai is a Munster.

Respectfully, no. He hasn't proven at Origin level like Munster has to individually carry a team on the biggest stage in origin or even finals. I worry about Luai's kicking game especially when it comes to slowing the game down by kicking it into touch, or 40/20s, goal kicking, field goals. He has a good short kicking game but if he leads the team he has to change how he plays completely. Not easy at all. Luai has done some long kicking for Samoa which was impressive (he was great vs England and Tonga) but he lost in the final. I still maintain though he was the best player in the tournament last year. Can't believe Joey Manu won it just because of stats. If I was to rate the current 5/8s in the game (regardless of 2023 form) I'd have it at:

1. Munster
2. Walker
3. Luai
4. Brown
5. Dearden/Mam for the last spot

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Thanks. Appreciate your respect. And you are right. RG.

 

[Leck]

it's a lot more realistic than those two. Luai has just won 3 premierships, already bought his family a nice mansion, and has a point to prove. From here on, if he stays at penrith even if he wins the next 3 premierships (takes the 850K 2 year contract) he will still have the legacy of being carried. No matter what. I could not see Munster at a Sydney team (except maybe Roosters) and only really Dolphins offerred him over a million. Tigers were never a realistic option. Latrell to Souths was always the logical option. He was very young (only 22 I think) when he signed. Luai is mid-20s and already has enough success to find a long term contract and enough money to have some stability and assurance that he made the best choice for himself and his family, not the Penrith club

I agree with you. However the question is, is he a leader? Because we need one.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Thats Benjis role

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Will he lead us to the promised land?

 

[Leck]

Thats Benjis role

Benji's not on the field.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Neither is Ivan Cleary.

 

[Leck]

I'm not against us signing Luai, he's a smart and creative player but he's also very cocky and he's not a leader. We went through 10 years of poor leadership with Luke. I'm happy with our halves for next year. At the very least we'll see if Benji's ideas and thinking works.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

We've been through 10 years of hell. We have nothing to lose. Have we?

 

[rugbygoated]

I agree with you. However the question is, is he a leader? Because we need one.

I think it comes down more to attitude than ability. Phil Gould (who is controversial but one of the best minds in the game) said during juniors that Luai was the more talented out of him and Cleary. Hard work is the difference between the two. Cleary stays back after training all the time and researches the game more than most. Luai has taken it easy the past few seasons. He was an absolute gun in 2020 and had one of the better starting debuts I've seen from a player in the NRL. He's kind of dissipated as others have got better at Penrith. I don't see him magically getting back to his best with the role he currently plays