Jarome Luai’s father sends shivers down the spines of Wests Tigers’ fans revealing tenuous nature of relationship with club

Melbourne Storm’s 64-nil thrashing of the Wests Tigers is a stark reminder of how Jarome Luai’s future at the beleaguered club hangs on every heavy loss.

ON Sunday afternoon, after watching their side being humiliated at AAMI Park in Melbourne, a sense of panic set in among Wests Tigers supporters.

Not only over a lopsided defeat that did much to undo all the good work Benji Marshall and his side have done this season.

The concern among Tigers supporters stemmed from a social media post made by Jarome Luai’s father Martin suggesting his son should activate the get-out clauses that sit in his contract for coming years.

Luai’s father has suggested he should activate his get-out clauses. Picture: Mike Owen/Getty Images

It was a disturbing reminder for Tigers fans of the tenuous nature of their relationship with Luai. Jarome has insisted that he is committed to the club – and Tigers insiders say he was embarrassed by his father’s post, which was hastily taken down – but while the clauses remain in his contract, Tigers fans will sit nervously in their seat.

Every defeat will cause angst. Every lopsided loss will prompt questions over Luai’s commitment and whether he is in it for the long haul.

The Tigers have until November 1 to convince Luai to remove the clauses – or extend his deal – but losses like Sunday won’t help their cause.

Luai isn’t used to losing. For five years at Penrith, he was entrenched in the finals.

Four of those years he walked away with premierships.

Luai with his four premiership rings after the 2024 Grand Final win over Melbourne Storm. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

The Tigers have been on an upward curve on his watch and Luai has been an agent for change at the club, but the loss to the Storm was a reminder of how far they still need to go.

They can’t get there without Luai, particularly with Lachlan Galvin halfway out the door. The other concern for the Tigers is that the cloud of uncertainty over Luai’s future may impact their ability to make future signings.

Lachlan Galvin and Jarome Luai during Magic Round in Brisbane. Picture: NRL Photos

Luai can help attract players but the new recruits need to know that he will be there. Which made Sunday afternoon’s events even more concerning for those Tigers fans who have been starved of success for more than a decade.

Under Marshall and chief executive Shane Richardson, the architects of the Luai signing, the club has made progress this season.

Even after a thrashing at the hands of Melbourne, they sit in a share of seventh and if you take the byes out of the equation, they would be even higher on the ladder.

They have a realistic chance of playing finals football and Luai has been as responsible for their fine form as anyone.

The Storm loss was a slap in the face but the key now is how they respond. On Monday morning, Luai posted an image of himself surrounded by his nearest and dearest. The caption simply read: ‘family’.

Originally published as Jarome Luai’s father sends shivers down the spines of Wests Tigers’ fans revealing tenuous nature of relationship with club