NSW villain Jarome Luai’s final infuriating act has Maroons fans fuming

Jarome Luai broke the State of Origin decider open with a piece of brilliance, and he got the last laugh with a very cheeky on-field act.

Jarome Luai waves goodbye to the Queensland fans.

Days after being rescued from a wave pool, Jarome Luai proved NSW’s saviour as the Blues clinched a thrilling State of Origin series win.

NSW won the decider 14-4, scoring the only two tries in the second half after both teams scored penalty goals in a low scoring affair.

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The arm wrestle of a match reached breaking point midway through the second half, and Luai was the man to break the game open.

Scooping up a loose ball on the halfway line, he unleashed one of his touch footy style steps and was suddenly streaking away.

Slowing up to look for support, Luai threw a pass to Bradman Best, who muscled past Dane Gagai and Kalyn Ponga to score an all-time Origin try in the corner.

A try set up by a five-eighth down the left edge late in a massive Origin game at Suncorp Stadium? It had shades of Johnathan Thurston and Greg Inglis about it.

Jarome Luai and DCE go head to head. Picture: NRL Photos/Gregg Porteous

Luai was his usual pest self too, instigating the first-half melee when he shirtfronted Daly Cherry-Evans in backplay, reigniting his longrunning feud with the Maroons veteran.

Somehow Luai escaped punishment for starting the argy bargy, and he delivered in attack and defence as the game went on.

After Mitchell Moses put the game beyond doubt with the second try of the game, Queensland fans began leaving Suncorp Stadium in droves.

Luai was in his element, waving to the Maroons supporters in the stands as play continued in the dying stages of the game.

One fan wrote on X: “If anyone enjoys getting under the skin of Queenslanders it’s Jarome.”

Jarome Luai waves goodbye to the Maroons crowd

After NSW lost last year’s series, Luai famously posted on Instagram: “Chill. All you idiots have work tomorrow.”

It certainly didn’t do much to endear him to NSW fans, but he may well have turned a corner in the eyes of the Blues faithful.

“People just talk about history and stats and we don’t have a great record here, but I think we done such a good job this week at putting all that aside,” he told Nine post-game.

“We did what we had to do tonight. I love these guys, man. I actually love them!

“Going down by two at halftime, I don’t think I have ever felt so calm. Just had that belief in what we had as a group.

“Just had that mentality of we don’t mind if we’re going to win this in the 79th minute, we’re going to get it done. Hopefully the Blues fans can appreciate that.”

Luai set up the first try of the game. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Asked about his line break to set up Best’s try, Luai said: “He did really well to take that pass. He beat another three tackles. He was doing that all night. Good to see him get the job done for us.”

He said the series victory was “right up there” with his three premiership wins with the Panthers.

“Just with the build-up, decider at Suncorp, yeah, man, I just enjoy winning,” he said.

“Enjoy winning with boys that I love. I think that’s why we won tonight. We had a great connection together.”

The Tigers-bound playmaker also proved he can play without Nathan Cleary, who will have to wait to reclaim the NSW No. 7 jersey after Mitchell Moses put on a clinic this series.

Originally published as NSW villain Jarome Luai’s final infuriating act has Maroons fans fuming