Almost 12 months to the day since Jarome Luai placed a Tigers cap on the table, an MLB baseball cap on his head and announced he was taking his services to Concord, the mercurial halfback fronted for his first close-up in his new club colours.
War wounds, maniacal grin, glint and all.
“It’s a jungle out there in Concord bra,” Luai said with a laugh. “You should see the other guy … [David] Klemmer looks worse.”
Twelve months on from signing a $6 million, five-year deal as one of the biggest recruits in Tigers history, Luai has spoken at length about the biggest move of his life.
He’s still talking about his contract too following this masthead’s revelation that player options could allow him to hit the open market as early as November 1, and potentially move on from the club by 2027.
“It’s a jungle out there in Concord bra”: Jarome Luai is stepping out of his comfort zone.Credit: Steven Siewert
But first things first for the man who described himself as Robin to Nathan Cleary’s Batman in one of the lines of 2024.
Feeling like Batman yet?
“That’s the title I’m gunning for and I need to step up to,” Luai said.
“You can’t just claim that title. The way you perform and the way you lead with your actions is going to get you that title. We’ll see how the year pans out.”
And those contract clauses? Especially after one of rugby league’s stranger free-agency clauses led to rising Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu joining Melbourne last year. Cause for consternation?
Jarome Luai running the show at Tigers training.Credit: Rhett Wyman
It certainly doesn’t lower the stakes for coach Benji Marshall, who has more expectation than most with a wooden spoon in their keeping, given Luai leads a recruitment spree that has also netted Terrell May, Sunia Turuva, Royce Hunt and Jack Bird.
But along with one of the richest deals in NRL history, the legacy of turning around a cellar-dwelling club has always been prominent in Luai’s move after four straight titles at Penrith.
“When it came out I thought, ‘I haven’t even played a game in the colours yet and we’re talking [about potentially leaving]?’,” he said.
“I’m used to it, it doesn’t faze me and I’ve got a point to prove here – not to anyone else but to myself.
“I think I’ve become a bit of a realist. I’m not looking that far ahead. Five years is a long time.
“Coming from a great club and my comfort zone, to step out of that and come here and test myself and test what I can bring to a new team [is the challenge].
“The biggest goal for me is to help these guys get in a position where they can compete for a title this year. That comes with a lot of work.”
Forget the scars from Luai’s pre-season rumble at training.
A career-best 2024 campaign – when he farewelled Penrith with a premiership, returned to the Origin arena with a NSW series win and stepped up as a game-managing half when Cleary was injured – is proof enough of his willingness to work and evolve.
Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary after winning their fourth premiership together.Credit: Getty Images
The 27-year-old’s mature handling of his final year at the Panthers and a series of candid interviews may have also finally softened the public perception of one of the game’s great, and often misunderstood, characters.
“I don’t really care to be honest with you,” Luai said when asked if he feels a bit more love from the rugby league public.
“I’m doing it my way. When all is said and done I want to say that I did it my way and have no regrets about doing that. Life is about learning about yourself and learning about the people around you.
“But did I mature just in that one year? Yeah, I did. I think that was me wanting to be at my best in my last year [at Penrith].
“It’s been nothing but good preparation for me this year. Growing up is the term as well. I’ve got three kids, so I’ve got no excuse to not be a good man on and off the field.”
Expectations are high of course for Luai and the Tigers. And the easiest interviews to give are when you’re sitting equal first on the ladder in the first week of January.
Pressure will only intensify the moment something doesn’t go to plan for a club still dogged by regular headlines about boardroom infighting and still coming off three straight wooden spoons.
“But that’s why I’m here,” Luai said. “That’s part of why I came, to take that [expectation] head on and enjoy that feeling. Sometimes I will veer away from that, too.
“But I’ve played in a lot of big matches and big moments and I know that’s set me up for this moment. I’m ready for that.
“My goal for every year is to push for a ring, no matter what team I’m playing with.”
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