‘Hurts to watch’: Panthers rocked by ‘catastrophic’ Jarome Luai injury

The Eels have ambushed the Panthers at home in the local derby clash but the loss has become so much more costly for the defending premiers.

This is the last sight the Panthers wanted to see. Photo: Getty Images and Fox Sports

The Panthers’ hopes of becoming the first team since the 1981-83 Eels to go back-to-back-to-back has taken a sickening blow after Jarome Luai suffered an ugly dislocated shoulder.

The Eels pulled off a shock 32-18 win at BlueBet Stadium, a rare beatdown in the Panthers’ backyard.

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The injury blow just added to a terrible start for the Panthers, who were down 22-4 at halftime, a shock result against an Eels side that has only the slimmest mathematical chance of making the finals.

In the 26th minute with the Eels leading 18-4, Luai was held up in a brilliant one-on-one tackle from Bryce Cartwright which saved a try.

But immediately it was clear something wrong.

As Luai went to ground the ball, Cartwright had twisted him onto his back, but Luai’s arm appeared to get pinned under the defender.

Immediately the Eels players around him signalled that it was a shoulder injury.

On Fox League, Michael Ennis said the injury “could be a catastrophic blow for Penrith”.

Upon watching the replay, Andrew Voss added: “It hurts to watch.”

“You heard the call ‘shoulder, shoulder’ and it shows the respect, the beauty of our sport,” Voss continued: “In the heat of battle, the opponents were aware he was in trouble.

“This is a sad sight for the Panthers, one of their main men.”

It was an unfortunate moment. Photo: Fox Sports

The Eels stayed with Luai. Photo: Fox Sports

The sight no Panthers fan wants to see. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Anthony Griffin added: “It’s one of those lightning bolts you don’t need in this position. You can correct your form or have a loss or a bad game but you can’t get class players like that to of the finals. That could be a massive blow for Penrith.”

Luai was quickly ruled out of the remainder of the match with a dislocated shoulder.

On Channel 9, Billy Slater said he thought it was a bad injury.

“When your hand hits the ground and slides out and someone lands on top, that’s not a good sign for Jarome Luai,” Slater said.

“He knows what’s going on, the face tells the story in these situations.”

The NRL Physio put the injury in context, saying it could well be a season-ending injury.

Confirmed shoulder dislocation for Jarome Luai, classic landing on outstretched arm mechanism. General recovery guide:
- minimal structural damage & joint stable: rehab for 3-6 weeks
- significant damage/joint unstable & immediate reconstruction surgery required: 3+ months pic.twitter.com/9PW5zcpkt5

— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) August 24, 2023

Jarome Luai is in the top 2 players at Penrith (together with Edwards) who we can least afford to miss. Both are almost irreplaceable in my books. Really hoping it’s not too serious

— Nat Hanrahan (@nat_sinclair93) August 24, 2023

At halftime, Panthers legend Greg Alexander said the Panthers’ doctors had got the shoulder back in place but his time on the sideline would depend on scans and how much damage there was to the shoulder.

Fox Sports host Lara Pitt said the injury, as well as the Eels’ ambush appeared to leave the Panthers rattled.

Penrith came into the match without Dylan Edwards and Sunia Turuva and appeared to miss their backs.

“It’s a rare occurrence, it hasn’t happened many times over the past four years where Penrith have been 18 points down at halftime at home,” Alexander said.

“Local derby’s do bring the best out of these teams.”

The Eels continued in the second half, running out 32-18 winners on the back of four tries for Parramatta winger Maika Sivo.

It was a big win for the Eels but likely a week too late.

The Eels now need the Roosters to lose to the Tigers before thrasing the Rabbitohs by 60+ in round 27, as well as the Cowboys winning only one of their remaining games against the Dolphins and Penrith, but not improving their points differential at all.

But while it’s been far from the season the Eels would have liked, the victory could have cost the Panthers the minor premiership with Penrith on equal points with the Broncos, who have a game in hand.