Jarome Luai has returned to State of Origin in controversial fashion after being placed on report for a possible eye-gouging offence during NSW’s dramatic 26-24 loss to Queensland at Perth Stadium on Wednesday night.
Luai was involved in a tackle midway through the first half when he was attempting to strip the ball from Maroons forward Reuben Cotter. He then appeared to give Cotter a vigorous facial, prompting Queensland players to remonstrate and referee Ashley Klein to issue a penalty and place Luai on report.
The match-review panel will now decide whether the incident warrants further action.
It is not the first time Luai has been involved in an Origin drama. In a 32-6 loss to Queensland in 2023, both he and Maroons fullback Reece Walsh were sent off and subsequently fined for head-butting.
Luai, who was omitted by NSW coach Laurie Daley for game one of this series, was recalled by the Blues when incumbent five-eighth Mitchell Moses broke down with a calf injury at training last week.
The Wests Tigers co-captain was fast-tracked into the starting line-up, leapfrogging 18th man Matt Burton, and most agreed it was a logical move.
The 28-year-old has spent almost his entire career playing alongside NSW halfback Nathan Cleary, and often in his shadow, but he remains a master craftsman in his own right, and the perfect foil for his former Penrith teammate.
Jarome Luai during Origin II in Perth on Wednesday.Credit: Getty Images
His record spoke for itself: four grand final triumphs, 10 State of Origin appearances (including two series wins), as well as helping Samoa defy the odds by reaching the 2022 World Cup final.
He’s a big-game player who has shown multiple times that he can rise to the occasion.
Indeed, it must have been a tough call for Daley to omit him for the series opener, given that Luai and Moses were the halves when NSW won last year’s campaign, under Michael Maguire.
Moses did a slick job in tandem with Cleary for the first time in Origin I, but when the Parramatta skipper was ruled out for game two, Luai seemed a natural fit alongside former Panthers teammates Cleary, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin.
The night didn’t start well for for Luai. He sliced his first kick of the game, at the end of the opening set, into touch on the full, gifting the Maroons precious field position.
A grubber kick in the ninth minute, which bounced opportunely for To’o to pounce and score, was a more accurate indication of Luai’s ability.
“That’s the mentality of Jarome Luai,” Channel Nine’s Andrew Johns said. “He just goes for it.”
But the Blues’ 6-0 lead did not last long.
After conceding a series of penalties and six-agains, NSW allowed the Maroons to pile on the pressure.
Jarome Luai gets a pass away as Queensland’s Tom Dearden closes in.Credit: Getty Images
In quick succession, Maroons winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow had two tries to his name, the first after Queensland created an overlap down Luai’s edge.
Then, in the 30th minute, the Maroons kept the ball alive and it ended in the hands of skipper Cameron Munster, who dived through Luai’s diving tackle to score.
The Maroons weren’t done, and a Kurt Capewell try in the 36th minute left the Blues facing a 26-6 deficit at the break.
Somehow NSW mounted a second-half comeback that took the game right down to the wire, and Luai was heavily involved.
A second To’o try gave the Blues a glimmer of hope, then in the 63rd minute, Luai launched a wicked clearing kick that forced an error from Tabuai-Fidow. To’o scored his hat-trick soon afterwards.
Then, in the 72nd minute, another Luai grubber created a try for back-rower Angus Crichton, and the Blues were within two points.
Queensland clung on to post a memorable win that will send the series to a decider in Sydney. Whether Luai is involved remains to be seen.
Michael Chammas and Andrew “Joey” Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.
