Jarome Luai says he won’t walk out on battling Wests Tigers ahead of showdown with former teammate Lachie Galvin

Tigers star Jarome Luai has dismissed any lingering tension with former teammate Lachlan Galvin ahead of their first clash since the teenager's controversial exit.

Wests Tigers star Jarome Luai says he’s at the club for the “long run” despite a battling season from his new team as he prepares to square off against former teammate Lachlan Galvin, who did leave, when they meet the Bulldogs on Sunday.

But Luai also dismissed any suggestion of bad blood with the young halfback, declaring “that’s not what it’s about”.

Galvin’s ugly exit from the Tigers came with bullying claims, legal action and even a social media post from Luai spruiking “Team First”.

But with 20-year-old Galvin now entrenched at the Bulldogs, Luai said there was no lingering animosity, happy the young playmaker was now “enjoying himself” at his new club.

“It’s not about Lachie, it’s not about the Dogs - it’s about us,” he said.

“That’s a story everyone wants to talk about. For us here inside our four walls, it’s about us and how we perform on game day.

Lachlan Galvin and Jarome Luai as teammates. Picture: NRL Photos

“Coming off the back of a loss, my main focus as a player is how I prepare throughout the week and ultimately, how I’m gonna perform.

“It’s all about me and my team.”

Luai hasn’t spoken to Galvin since he left the club last month, and fully expected the halfback would be booed by Tigers fans on Sunday afternoon.

“I’ve been on the receiving end many times,” Luai said.

“For me it’s fun. You know, that’s the game of rugby league. It’s a fan-driven game, you know, so you’ve got to expect that. Good luck to Lachy.”

Despite Galvin’s desire to get out of the club, amid claims he wouldn’t develop under coach Benji Marshall, Luai stated he’d stay at the Tigers “for life”.

Luai crossed on a five-year deal after winning four premierships with Penrith. The final three years of the deal are an option in Luai’s favour.

While the Tigers are staring down the barrel of missing the finals again, Luai said he wouldn’t be walking away from the challenge he signed up for.

“I think when things get hard, people are sort of expecting you to change and I’m not that type of guy,” Luai said.

“I’m here for the long run and I’m here to change this club around.”

The Tigers have won just seven games this season, needing a late run of victories to be any chance of making the finals.