Billy Slater makes surprising Jarome Luai call ahead of Wests Tigers debut

Billy Slater has hinted at a bombshell switch involving Jarome Luai ahead of his first game for the Wests Tigers this season.

NRL great and current Queensland coach Billy Slater believes new Tigers recruit Jarome Luai won’t play as the club’s halfback, the position he was signed on a $6 million deal to play.

Luai is undoubtedly the biggest signing ahead of the 2025 NRL season and has been brought to the wooden spooners to attempt to turn their fortunes around.

The 28-year-old has long been the Panthers five-eighth and Nathan Cleary’s right-hand man, but he was brought into the Tigers for 2025 and beyond as a halfback, with Lachlan Galvin excelling as the club’s No. 6 last year.

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But despite the fact he will almost certainly be in the No. 7 jersey for the Tigers’ Round 1 clash against the Knights, Slater predicts on the field he will be deployed as a five-eighth, with Galvin stepping into the halfback role.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if they actually swap positions and Galvin actually played that halfback role,” the Maroons coach said on Nine’s Billy Slater Podcast.

“He’s (Galvin) a real on-baller, he likes to be involved, while Luai has probably played his best football just sitting off a little bit, like when he plays with Nathan Cleary.

“They mightn’t swap the numbers, but they might swap roles of who is more dominant.”

Jarome Luai has been tipped to play at five eighth for the Tigers. Image: Getty/Code Sports

Jarome Luai tasked with taking Tigers to glory

But regardless of where Luai is deployed, the signing of the Penrith playmaker, Sunia Turuva and Terrell May have brought about a sense of optimism among Tigers fans heading into the 2025 season.

It has now been 13 long seasons since the joint venture played finals football – the longest active finals drought in the NRL.

In that time, six coaches have come and gone, the club has had four CEOs and James Tedesco made his NRL debut in the orange and black before moving to the Roosters and establishing himself as one of the best fullbacks in the NRL.

Jarome Luai is set to make his Wests Tigers debut in Round 1. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Luai is the latest in a long line of Tigers players who has been tasked with leading the club to greener pastures.

And teammate and former Panther Api Koroisau says from day one at his new club the half has made it his mission to bring the club back to finals footy.

“He knew he had to do things to change this club,” Koroisau told AAP.

“He has come in and hasn’t held back. Everyone looks up to him, everyone loves him. I think he has really taken that role on and done really well.

“His footy IQ, the way he can convey what he wants to get out, his ideas or what we think we should do are incredible.

“He hasn’t been shy about anything. If he needs to say something then he will, and that takes real leadership and courage.”