Weekend Read: What abusers of NSW State of Origin star Jarome Luai don’t understand

Jarome Luai could have just turned off social media after the Blues’ Origin loss. But he got to where he is by not taking the easy option, and critics should remember that, BRENT READ writes.

Jarome Luai and Reece Walsh go head to head. Picture: Getty

In the corner of a bruised and battered NSW dressing room at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, a bloodied Jarome Luai was holding court.

Sporting a nasty cut on his bottom lip, he was doing his best to put on a brave face, despite being sent from the field in the dying seconds of a game that ended in bitter disappointment for the Blues.

For five minutes or so, he was interrogated over his brouhaha with Reece Walsh and in his own mind at least, must have wondered whether his place in the team was now under threat.

He was there though, one of the few NSW players to put aside the devastation of defeat and face the media. They were all coming to grips with the loss of the Origin series for the second year in a row but Luai wasn’t ducking anyone. He rarely does.

Jarome Luai and Reece Walsh clash before both being sent off in Origin II at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Luai isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, that much has again become clear this week. The shame is he should be, if not for the way he plays his football then for the way he lives his life off the field.

Sure he makes the occasional mistake. Don’t we all? His use of social media this week to hit back at his critics drew its share of condemnation, the accusation that Luai needed to get some perspective for the everyday men and women who do indeed go to work every day.

It was later explained that Luai was responding to trolls who had threatened him in the wake of Origin defeat. This column spent some time scrolling through the comments on is latest tweet and while there were no death threats in the public responses, there was plenty of abuse.

Streams and streams of bile. One clown suggested Luai should “top himself”. The vast majority were claiming that Walsh was now his “daddy”, a reference to Luai’s own comments before last year’s grand final where he told the Eels to “call us daddy”.

Jarome Luai art by Boo Bailey

A frustrated Luai responded and all hell broke loose. The post gave the impression that Luai didn’t appreciate the value of hard work, or the everyday struggles of people whose only motivation is to put food on the table for their families.

That perception is so clearly wrong given Luai’s background. He has had his own well-documented struggles. His father Martin worked hard for his family before losing his job and risking it all, resulting in a stint in prison.

Jarome Luai’s Instagram post after Origin II.

At one point, the family lived off a Centrelink allowance Luai’s mother Raumako received from the government. They had no washing machine for a time. Nor a microwave. It wasn’t easy in the Luai household.

Luai has done it tough. He no doubt appreciates the value of hard work. It helps explain why he savours every minute of his personal ride.

It probably also explains why he fronted up on Wednesday night. Origin defeat is no doubt put in perspective when you have seen your mother and father struggle to feed their family.

The easy option for the Penrith pivot would be to remove himself from social media or turn off the comments. Why should he do that? It’s a way for Luai to connect with his fans, and there are plenty of them too.

My own 11-year-old son Oliver somehow became a supporter of Penrith thanks in part to the likes of Luai. Young fans feel an affinity with Luai, Brian To’o and Stephen Crichton.

Their boom box culture may not be everyone’s cup of tea – it has been a personal source of irritation that the music has blared while the media has attempted to conduct interviews in recent years – but it strikes a cord with plenty.

Despite what plenty would have you believe, they’re good people too. The type of people that the game and its supporters should be proud of, rather than showering with abuse.

BRUTAL GAME 3 DILEMMA FACING FREDDY

Blues coach Brad Fittler and his advisor Greg Alexander face a difficult decision heading into the final game of the Origin series.

Do they plan for a future they may not be part of? Or do they go all out to win the final game of the series to salvage some pride?

The Blues were belted in Origin II and changes are afoot. They will start in the playing ranks and end in the off-season, likely with the coach and his support staff.

The more immediate concern will surround Fittler and Alexander, and whether they take a machete to their playing group. Do they bring in the likes of Campbell Graham and Keaon Koloamatangi?

How about Manly second rower Haumole Olakau’atu and Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards? Canterbury star Matt Burton, who was 18th man for the opening two games of the series, also deserves a chance in Origin III.

Keaon Koloamatangi has been on the cusp of Origin selection.

Nicho Hynes should be there as well. There is no doubt the side should be picked with an eye to the future.

That means no place for Tyson Frizell and Damien Cook, even though they weren’t to blame for the way it panned out at Suncorp Stadium.

Graham and Koloamatangi have been knocking on the door and deserve their chance. Edwards is the most interesting proposition.

Despite calls for James Tedesco’s head, he is the Blues captain and his position should be untouchable for Origin III. Edwards should be in the squad as well, perhaps on the interchange bench if not the wing.

His form demands it.