Wests Tigers’ scare as star recruit Jarome Luai sent for scans on leg injury
As the Wests Tigers attempt to bounce back from three miserable years, an injury scare for their big-name recruit has rocked the club.
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Jarome Luai, the Wests Tigers’ prized recruit, has sent an injury scare through the joint venture club.
With positive energy emanating out of the Tigers’ 2025 pre-season camp following a solid recruiting drive under second-year coach Benji Marshall, the last thing they need is an injury to their new co-captain.
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But according to a report from CODE Sports, Luai has been sent for emergency scans on a knee injury.
The playmaker is understood to have suffered the injury last week and the club is yet to release details on the injury.
News.com.au has contacted the Wests Tigers for information on the injury concern.
Marshall took his troops to Moreton Bay north of Brisbane for an intense three-day camp last week, with input from army personnel.
The Tigers have picked up the dreaded wooden spoon in each of the last three years, winning a miserable 14 games in that stretch from a possible 72 matches.
Desperate to arrest that historic slide, the club has brought in Luai on a multimillion-dollar contract to partner exciting teenager Lachlan Galvin in the halves.
Ex-Panther Sunia Turuva, former Roosters prop Terrell May and Samoan international Royce Hunt are among the other names that have joined the club.
The Tigers will be hoping Luai is fit for the club’s opening match of the looming Pre-season Challenge event.
The Tigers open their campaign against the Bulldogs at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium on February 16 followed by a chance for the fans to get a glimpse of the new-look side against Parramatta at Leichhardt Oval on February 21.
Luai and Galvin will need as much time as possible to get their halves partnership up and firing, along with the blending in of the other recruits, ahead of the NRL season-opener against Newcastle in Campbelltown on Friday, March 7.
Last week, the Tigers announced Api Koroisau and Luai – former teammates at the Panthers – will be co-captains for the 2025 campaign.
Marshall is clearly relishing his squad for the coming season and has plenty of faith in his leadership duo.
“Api has been a phenomenal leader for this club over the past two years and his respect within the team is second to none,” Marshall said.
“Adding Jarome’s passion and creativity to our leadership structure makes this partnership really exciting.
“Together, they bring a balance of stability and flair that will drive our team forward in 2025.”
The 28-year-old Luai is also thrilled to have earned a leadership position at the club, which is desperate for some good times to return over the year ahead.
Premiers way back in 2005, the Tigers haven’t tasted September action since the 2011 season.
“Being named captain of the Wests Tigers with Api is an honour I don’t take lightly,” Luai said.
“Api has set an incredible standard as a leader and I’m excited to work alongside him again and contribute to building something special here.
“I am grateful to the coaching staff for giving me this opportunity and I want to make my family, the team, our members and sponsors proud.”
Originally published as Wests Tigers’ scare as star recruit Jarome Luai sent for scans on leg injury
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