‘I don’t have any beef’: Jarome Luai set to renew hostilities with Broncos duo after fiery Origin confrontations
Jarome Luai is a firm believer in what happens on the field, stays on the field. And he says rivalries with opposition stars is great for the game.
Panthers star Jarome Luai has had his fair share of run-ins with some of Brisbane’s biggest names, but the representative five-eighth says on-field rivalries are “what makes footy great” and he has “no beef” with Broncos duo Reece Walsh and Selwyn Cobbo ahead of Sunday’s grand final.
The rivalry between Luai and Cobbo has developed into one of the spiciest feuds in the NRL after the Broncos winger went on a podcast and called him “a grub” for an incident last year when Luai stood over him in Origin not knowing that he’d been knocked out cold.
That was one of the biggest talking points heading into this year’s Origin series, but in the end it was another young Queenslander who went toe-to-toe with Luai, with Walsh lighting the fuse in game one when he pulled his hair.
Things boiled over at Suncorp Stadium when the pair were both sent off for headbutting in the final minute, with the parochial crowd giving it to Luai after they gave Walsh a standing ovation as he kissed the Queensland badge.
It’s common to see players go at it on the field and on social media in American sports, but it’s a fairly new phenomenon in Australia that doesn’t sit well with some fans.
But as Walsh said on Monday, Luai “puts bums on seats”, which is one of the reasons he respects his Panthers rival so much.
And as Luai points out, it’s become one of the hottest issues as his side looks to win a third title in a row.
“It’s gun. That’s what makes this sport great,” he said.
“It’s exactly as Reece said. It’s about putting bums on seats so I can’t wait for this game between probably the two best teams all year.
“I don’t really talk to them (Walsh and Cobbo). I don’t have any beef with anyone off the field, and that’s how the league should be with guys leaving it on the field.”
As for the headbutt incident in Origin, Luai says he has no regrets about what happened.
“He’s one of the young guns in the competition and the way that he plays the game is crazy,” he said, in awe of Walsh’s attacking brilliance.
“That just showcased how passionate we are when we’re out on the field (so there’s no regret).
“That’s the competitor in us and that’s why we’re out there on the big stage. I’m playing NRL because that competitor got me here. I know I’m not the only one with it and a lot of the boys here are like that as well, but I respect him off the field big time.
“You do whatever you can to get the job done. We’ve got one more game in front of us so we’ve got to get the job done.”
Luai will park those rivalries as he heads into his fourth grand final in as many years, with Penrith looking to confirm their status as one of the greatest club sides of all time.
Grand finals are nothing new to Luai who revealed he was in tears when he missed the 2016 Holden Cup decider due to a suspension for a spear tackle.
Luai was only 19 at the time but he’s now developed into one of the game’s elite playmakers who has a young family, a new home and a huge decision coming up on his future.
The Samoan star becomes a free agent on November 1 and could attract monster offers from rival clubs that the Panthers can’t compete with.
He has seen some of his mates stay for less while others like Stephen Crichton are leaving the club on huge new deals, but Luai – who is in the process of changing agents – won’t make a call on his future right now.
“I’ve left that on the backburner for now,” he said.
“I really want to make this one count because we’ve got a few boys leaving so I want to make sure my mind and body are right.
“I’ve had my fair share here with some of the boys and what they’ve been through. Seeing other boys go through it has helped me in this sense, so it doesn’t make it weird.
“Everything you do is in the public eye, whether that’s a mistake or a good deed or whether it’s contract talk. It’s all a bit enhanced because this is going to affect my family and where I end up, but that’s rugby league.
“I don’t know at the moment, and that’s why I’ve put it on the backburner. It’s helped me focus on what I need to do right now.”