Weekend Read: Jarome Luai heroics for NSW and Penrith Panthers prove the Wests Tigers pursued the right man

Jarome Luai has stood up for both club and state over the past few months in the absence of Nathan Cleary, proving he’s more than just a sidekick and giving the long-suffering Wests Tigers fans a reason to believe, writes BRENT READ.

Let’s talk about Jarome Luai. Yes, Mitchell Moses wore the No.7 jersey and produced a classic performance at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

He was brilliant. Deserves all the plaudits that come his way given the way he has eradicated any doubts over his representative career with his performances in a sky blue jersey.

He played tough in this series and he got his reward. But what about the bloke beside him? Jarome Luai has had to live with the perception that he is Nathan Cleary’s sidekick for years now.

Some will happily tell you that the Panthers and NSW are Cleary’s team and Luai is along for the ride. Not any more.

Not after what we have seen in the past couple of months as Luai has taken the lead for club and state. Cleary remains the game’s undisputed king but Luai surely has a legitimate claim now on the title.

He can do no more. He had to fight hard to retain his NSW jersey and if Cleary had been fit, there was every chance it would have been Moses with him in the halves when the Origin series kicked off.

Jarome Luai has proven over the past few months he’s more than just Nathan Cleary’s sidekick. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Luai refused to concede defeat and has now chalked up his 10th appearance for the Blues, celebrating the occasion by leading NSW to a big win over Queensland.

It was his moment of genius that separated the sides. Classic Luai. Nothing was on when Connor Watson squeezed out an offload.

Luai sized up what was in front him, noted that he had the beating of Jeremiah Nanai, burnt him on the outside and threw a pass almost on instinct that sent Bradman Best over.

It was the moment that came to decide the Origin series. Okay, so Luai isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but you get the feeling he is starting to win over plenty of his critics not just with his form, but with the way he has carried himself throughout this series and season.

In Cleary’s absence, he has taken over at Penrith and shown that the Panthers are in safe hands. He has done it with class and dignity. In the process, he has given long-suffering Wests Tigers fans a reason to believe that maybe their time is coming.

Their supporters will be licking their lips in anticipation. If you cast you mind forward to next season, they already look a better side.

Luai will be given $6 million over the next five years to turn them into contenders and based on what we have seen this season, it seems like a canny investment.

There is no telling what he could do for a club that has serially underachieved for a decade and how he can improve a player like Lachlan Galvin, who will now become Robin to Luai’s Batman.

Jarome Luai has given the Tigers a reason to believe for next season.Picture: Justin Lloyd.

Few no doubt have enjoyed the Origin series as much as Tigers coach Benji Marshall, whose first year of head coaching started with promise but has gone pear-shaped at a rapid rate.

Marshall made Luai his personal mission and now we can see why. Likewise chief executive Shane Richardson, who has chased Luai’s signature since he was a teenager coming through at Penrith.

Richardson saw then what everyone else is seeing now – a player capable of controlling the Tigers and turning into contenders. Remarkably, Luai could arrive with a fourth premiership as well as the Origin shield in his keeping.

Before the Origin series began, Luai spoke about finding peace in his life.

“That’s a big part of what I want to feel,” Luai said.

“I have three kids. They keep me busy as it is. Not having too much time on my hands helps. Being mature about how you portray yourself and how you want to be looked at.

“I want to be a role model. I’m playing footy and I’m happy. If you’re happy off the field you can play some good footy on it.”

He has come from humble beginnings, which he has never forgotten. Late on Thursday, Luai paid homage to background.

“Surreal. Just a Poly playmaker from the area man. Dream big fam,” Luai wrote.

Well said.

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Another classic State of Origin decider is in the books with a NSW win and Blues stars Haumole Olakau’atu and Cameron Murray should be thanking their lucky stars, not for the victory but for the fact they only received two game suspensions over the wild brawl that marred the occasion.

Queensland legend Gorden Tallis raised a good point on NRL360 on Thursday night. If that incident had taken place in local football, Olakau’atu and Cameron Murray would have received far lengthier bans.

Instead, they copped what amounted to a slap on the wrist. The chief executives at their clubs – Manly’s Tony Mestrov and Souths boss Blake Solly – were up in arms over the pair missing club football on the pages of this newspaper.

Cameron Murray getting involved in the Origin melee. Picture: NRL Photos

They have a point, but they should also be thankful that the pair will play again this season. Two games seems awful light for getting involved in a brawl while on the sidelines – in

Olakau’atu’s case, he wasn’t even playing and was wearing his pants and suit jacket.

A couple of years ago, a lot more players would have missed time given the amount of charges were meted out following the incident.

The NRL tinkered with the judiciary rules in recent seasons to ease the pain for club sides and they deserve credit for listening to their concerns.

Yet, the bans have reopened the debate about representative suspensions being served in club football. Mestrov has called for a summit at the end of the season. Solly wants change as well.

The NRL is likely to give the idea short shrift. The rugby league representative scene is a far cry from international football.

Serving State of Origin or Test bans in representative football alone would open up a can of worms and the NRL is unlikely to be in a mood to contemplate such a drastic change.