‘Disappointment’: Andrew Voss’s brutal Jarome Luai reality check after Tigers horror show

NRL commentator Andrew Voss has laid bare a worrying truth about the Wests Tigers and their marquee signing Jarome Luai.

NRL commentator Andrew Voss has called out Jarome Luai’s underwhelming performance in the Tigers’ 10-8 loss to the Knights, as he declared Benji Marshall’s men the “biggest disappointments” of the opening round.

Ahead of the 2025 season, the Tigers made several key additions as they looked to avoid yet another wooden spoon.

But despite signing Luai, Terrell May and Sunia Turuva, they were only able to produce eight points in Round 1 and were held scoreless in the second half in a concerning display by the perennial battlers.

Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.

And Voss believes the warning light is already flashing with Luai, who signed a five-year deal worth $6 million ahead of the 2025 season, looking lost without his long-time halves partner Nathan Cleary.

Luai still managed to set up the Tigers’ only try for Jeral Skelton and also produced a try-saver.

However, Voss believes on that display from him and his teammates, Tigers fans are in for another long season.

“The Wests Tigers were one of the biggest disappointments of the weekend for me,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast on Monday.

Jarome Luai was underwhelming in his Wests Tigers debut. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“I’m just being honest because I had greater expectations for the Tigers. They stunk the joint up.

“I thought the arrival of Luai was not awe-inspiring and Lachlan Galvin had his worst game in first grade.

“Newcastle were incredibly poor and somehow won. It needs to be pointed out that the Tigers played an opponent nowhere near the level of Melbourne or Manly and they still lost.

“Keep that in mind. If they played those others too, I’d be fearful of what the score would’ve been.

“I’m giving the Tigers some time and space but of all the teams that won in the first round, the Knights were the worst of them. The Tigers only got one try on them and that’s where I have the problem.”

Andrew Voss (left) and Greg Alexander in action for Fox League. NRL Imagery

Jarome Luai struggled to stamp himself on the match. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Luai also admitted he felt a bit lost leading the Tigers, comparing the feeling to that of when he made his NRL debut.

“Comparing it to when I debuted in the NRL, it felt like that,” Luai said afterwards.

“It’s been a big pre-season, and emotion all came out getting the opportunity to lead the boys out. A bit anxious leading up to this point.

“A lot of chatter around it. But definitely good to get the first hit out. We showed a lot of resilience. There is a lot of improvement but I am proud of how my boys went.”

The Tigers play the Eels on Sunday at CommBank Stadium, with the Eels not faring any better in Round 1, thumped 56-18 by the Storm.

Originally published as ‘Disappointment’: Andrew Voss’s brutal Jarome Luai reality check after Tigers horror show