Jarome Luai says he’s committed to Wests Tigers. But will he be there for the long term?

Jarome Luai will wait until the end of the season to sit down with his management and discuss whether he removes a clause from his contract that allows him to walk away from Wests Tigers at the end of 2026.

After another tumultuous week for the club, during which Benji Marshall was forced to defend himself again, Luai declared: “I’m really committed to the Tigers, committed to turning the club around, and bringing some joy to the club and the fans.”

Luai said it had been “refreshing” to return to NSW camp and escape the constant scrutiny on the Tigers, which continued this week with coach Marshall forced to play down suggestions of a training altercation with Adam Doueihi, and explain why Tallyn Da Silva – another local junior – was allowed to leave to join Parramatta.

The Tigers will try to avoid a seventh straight loss against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday afternoon.

Luai is in the first season of a five-year, $6 million deal, but has an option to leave after two seasons. He felt guilty for missing last weekend’s loss to Manly after being hospitalised with a staph infection, but made a point of joining in the team review on Monday before returning to Blues camp.

After losing Lachlan Galvin to Canterbury, Tigers fans will be desperate for some good news.

“I feel for Benji, the players and the club”: Jarome Luai says much of the noise about the Tigers is unwarranted.Credit: Getty Images

He is a co-captain of the club, and has worked to set new standards at training – the kind that helped him win four titles at Penrith.

When asked about removing the clause, Luai said from NSW camp on Saturday: “I haven’t really spoken to my manager about it yet. We’ll speak about that after the season and see what the go is there.

“I’m really committed to the Tigers, committed to turning the club around, and bringing some joy to the club and the fans.

“I feel for Benji, the players and the club. A lot of it is unwarranted. We haven’t been getting the results, but we’ve been in most of the games we play in.

Jarome Luai shares a joke with Tigers coach Benji Marshall.Credit: Getty Images

“I know for a fact, being there now, this club is heading in the right direction. A lot of good stuff we are doing is not getting the praise it deserves.

“I’m not surprised [by the intense interest] because I’ve been on the outside looking in, and it’s happened [for] a while.

“It’s about being in the driver’s seat now, and how do I help the boys within the four walls not buy into it. That’s been my main focus.”

As for being able to block out the noise ahead of next Wednesday’s Origin decider, Luai said: “It’s probably been refreshing to come back into this team and not feel that media pressure that’s been going on.

“It’s refreshing, but at the same time, I’m still feeling for the boys, especially when I’m not there, and they’re still getting hammered [in the media].

“I message all the boys and coach a lot, and check on them.

“I missed last weekend [against Manly]. I only got out of hospital on Sunday. I needed to get into [review] and apologise to the boys because I should have been there. My health didn’t allow me to do it.

“When I get back there after Origin, I’ll make sure I tighten up the screws, and we can hopefully make a good push for the finals.”

Loading

NSW have scored six of their eight tries in the opening two games down their left edge, including four in Perth in game two when Luai combined with Latrell Mitchell, Angus Crichton and Brian To’o.

“It’s a big part of my responsibility to get them the ball in great positions to let them do their stuff,” Luai said.

“We did a fair job of that in game two. Maybe we could have gone back there the last 10 minutes, and maybe iced the game there, but we’ve got a great opportunity in front of us to not miss that again.”

To’o, Haas to rejoin Blues training on Monday

Brian To’o and Payne Haas are expected to rejoin the main Blues training group on Monday and NSW prop Stefano Utoikamanu has shaken off a niggling calf complaint.

To’o and Haas went through a series of drills on the sideline in Leura on a blustery Saturday morning as they attempt to overcome knee and lower-back injuries.

Penrith winger To’o suffered a grade-two lateral ligament tear in his left knee against the Bulldogs last Thursday week, and NSW medicos are happy to take the conservative approach with him in the countdown to Wednesday’s Origin decider. Monday’s session at the Blues’ Sydney Olympic Park base will be 12 days since To’o picked up the injury.

Haas stayed in Brisbane last Monday to be treated by Broncos staff, and received a cortisone injection in his lower back, a problem he has managed all season.

Meanwhile, Utoikamanu underwent a series of tests while in front of team physio Eddie Farah on Saturday. The front-rower gave the Blues’ the thumbs up and completed the full session.

Jarome Luai was backing one of his best friends To’o to have an impact on Wednesday, regardless of how much training he can complete, and said: “We all know what Bizza is like, we know what he can do, what he’s capable of, and if he’s right for game day, he’ll do a good job for us.

“He’s obviously not 100 per cent, but the love he has for this jersey and for his brothers, he’ll suit up and get the job done if he can.”

NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now

Most Viewed in Sport

Loading