Jarome Luai’s trademark calm briefly gave way to frustration this week, with the Wests Tigers co-captain sharing a tense exchange with a reporter ahead of the club’s clash against the Bulldogs.
The media appearance marked Luai’s first public comments since the Tigers confirmed they would allow him to exit his contract earlier than originally planned.
Luai has since locked in his next move, agreeing to join the Parramatta Eels for the 2027 NRL season before linking up with the PNG Chiefs when the expansion club enters the competition in 2028.
When asked to reflect on his stint at the Tigers, Luai appeared visibly unimpressed and pushed the question back on the journalist, asking for their view on his time at the club.
‘How would you reflect?’ Luai asked the reporter.
Jarome Luai appeared frustrated after being asked to assess his time with the Wests Tigers
Luai pushed the question back at the reporter before later saying he had enjoyed his time at the club
Luai had originally been expected to remain at the Tigers until joining the PNG Chiefs in 2028, but the club has allowed him to depart at the end of this season
‘I think people are quick to point the finger and sometimes quick to forget. But I’ve enjoyed my time, bro, and I think I’ve grown in a lot of ways that people haven’t seen.
‘We’re not getting wooden spoons here anymore, so that’s a tick in the box.’
And that is a hard point to argue with, Luai was brought in as the cornerstone of a rebuild.
He was supposed to be the guy who would help set renewed standards and give the team something to build around.
That he did, the Tigers were able to lift themselves off the foot of the table during his two-year stint with the club.
But the divorce has become fractious with reports surfacing that Luai’s relationship with head coach Benji Marshall has also broken down.
‘I don’t think Jarome and Benji are as close as they were… ever since he said I’m off to PNG,’ said Danny Weidler.
Luai’s father Martin then added further fuel to the fire by responding to that quote on Instagram with an ‘okay’ hand sign emoji.
Rumours of a rift between Marshall and Luai have also been squashed by the latter in his press conference
Luai, however, did admit he was initially surprised by the decision to be released from his contract at the end of the current season
But that has since been cleared up by Luai himself as he rejected suggestions he and his coach had suffered a personal rift.
‘Nah, I think (Benji) explained it perfectly,’ Luai said.
‘I’ve got the utmost respect for Benji, my coach, for the way he holds himself and for how much he loves this club and how much he loves this team.
‘He’s been really transparent with me and we’ve been able to have tough conversations, and I think that’s why I respect him so much.
‘I’m at peace, bro. I understand where the decision came from. I’m here to support that decision and support my coach.
‘We’re not going to let a business decision get in the way of our relationship.’
And in his press conference today, Luai admitted he was caught off guard by the Tigers’ decision with 18 months left on his contract with the club, adding that it was a difficult decision to take.
‘It was a bit of a shock, I’ll be honest with you,’ Luai said of the Tigers’ decision.
‘But as a player, our game at this level is a business. The faster the athlete is able to comprehend that, the better.
‘I think it’s human to feel an emotion and then slowly process it and understand why things happen. I’m a man just like you, bro. I’m not going to lie,’ Luai said.
‘I’m on board now. The thing I want to be is be my best for the remaining time I’m here and have some fun with the boys.
‘I’m not holding any grudges, bro. My main thing now is just adapt, move on, and I want to enjoy my footy. That’s when I’m at my best.’
