NRL 2024: Jarome Luai’s advice for jailed kids as Panthers players visit Cobham Youth Justice Centre

The boys had just one question when Panthers players visited the Cobham Youth Justice Centre, but Jarome Luai’s real message had nothing to do with his impending move to the Tigers.

The boys at Cobham had one question for Jarome Luai … why did he decide to make the move to the Wests Tigers for 2025? Picture: Justin Lloyd.

They only really had one question for Jarome Luai.

Around 60 boys, all aged between 15-21, in four different wards, all staring back at the one Penrith player from the area who’s seen some of their faces before.

Seen them in his childhood.

And while he was happy to answer their queries about his mega rich deal with the Wests Tigers, Luai’s real message had nothing to do with his impending exit from premiership powerhouse Penrith.

“I grew up in Mt Druitt,” Luai told them.

“So I know a lot of boys and had a lot of mates that didn’t quite take the same road I did, purely for the fact that I had to make a tough choice.

“But they didn’t want the same things that I did.”

Daily Telegraph. 18, January, 2024. Penrith Panthers during a visit to Cobham Youth Justice Centre, Werrington, today. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

For most of the young men at the Cobham Youth Justice Centre, they hear similar words every day. On this same Thursday, the Western Sydney Wanderers also paid them a visit.

But for this particular group chosen to represent the Cobham Warriors – the centre’s OzTag team – it might hit differently coming from a three-time premiership-winner who likes it known that he’s from the streets.

Still lives there.

Still has the memories of the ones who were there right alongside, and on the other side of him, while his teenage reputation grew just down the road playing for the St Marys Saints.

Further down the M4 at Patrician Brothers Blacktown, too.

Between Luai’s junior club and his high school, the NRL list of graduates include Bryce Cartwright, Frank and Tony Puletua, Michael Jennings, Brian To’o, Tim Grant, Stephen Crichton, Andrew Fifita, Spencer Leniu, Luke Lewis, Matt Moylan, and Jamie Buhrer.

Who knows how many others there could’ve been. And where they ended up.

“I had a lot of friends, guns, in young junior footy teams who could’ve easily been in my shoes,” Luai later tells this masthead.

“They’d probably be better than I was back then.

“That’s my bit of advice from those guys, really. The guys that have been through here, come through the system. Where we can help motivate people in our community, we’re all for it.”

The boys at Cobham had one question for Jarome Luai … why did he decide to make the move to the Wests Tigers for 2025? Picture: Justin Lloyd

It’s why Luai is eternally grateful that he’s in his striking Adidas white and orange Pureboosts, instead of the pallid dark green shoes each of the young men are wearing across him.

He doesn’t shy away from the fact that he could’ve been.

“Definitely. That’s where the gratitude parts comes in for me,” he says.

“And it’s why I hold my parents on a pedestal because that’s the difference between me and the boys that didn’t quite make it, or went in the wrong direction.

“My parents were pretty young as well, they probably didn’t do the right stuff when they were younger. So they disciplined me and my siblings really well and always been in our corner.”

Luai is one of four kids to his mum, Raumako, and dad, Martin, who spent over two years in a maximum-security prison cell in Brisbane for drug trafficking in 2018.

He missed Luai’s first grade debut, and the birth of Luai’s first child, Israel.

“He obviously made the wrong decision at that time in his life, which people do. (But) I definitely vouch for him, he’s definitely turned his life around for the better,” Luai says.

“Whether it was us motivating him, I’m not too sure. Maybe you can ask him one day.”

Luai and his father Martin Luai at the press conference where he announced his move to the Tigers. Picture: Richard Dobson

Earlier this month, Luai made the unconventional decision to hold his own press conference to announce his exit from Penrith for a generational $6m deal at the Wests Tigers from 2025.

Sitting next to him was Martin.

“Just for my own personal journey, I knew what I had to do to do great things, to be able to give myself this opportunity,” says Luai, who was one of eight Panthers to visit the centre.

“But I can hand on heart say that I wouldn’t be here without my mum and dad.”

Luai isn’t far away from paying off their current mortgage.

“When I left my parents’ home, I was always going to take care of them. It was always going to be family first, and that was one of the goals, to pay off their house,” he says.

“That’s why I can speak about my personal experiences.

“My dad has always been a male role model for myself. He didn’t make the right decisions at times, but I’ve always been brought up knowing right from wrong.”

Unit manager Hugo McCann, who has worked at the Cobham Youth Justice Centre for almost 20 years, says Luai’s words will have long-lasting effects for the young offenders there.

“A lot of those boys are chatterboxes, they’re very talkative, but a few of them were a bit stunner and lost for words to say,” McCann said.

“It was interesting to see that, but I’m sure it builds long-time memories for them.”

That, and the answer Luai gave them when all they wanted to know was why one of Penrith’s greatest playmakers is leaving for the Tigers.

“A couple of reasons,” Luai said.

“But number one, family.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Jarome Luai’s advice for jailed kids as Panthers players visit Cobham Youth Justice Centre