Jarome Luai’s ‘idiots’ Insta post prompted by alleged death threats after Origin loss

Jarome Luai was slammed for his inflammatory Insta post following Origin II, but the shocking reason for the post has been revealed.

Jarome Luai at Sydney Airport. The NSW Blues Rugby League Team arrive at Sydney Airport, after losing the game and the State of Origin series against Queensland in game two played in Brisbane. Picture: John Appleyard

NSW coach Brad Fittler has defended Jarome Luai’s divisive post-game State of Origin Instagram post.

Following another controversial performance in NSW’s 32-6 loss to Queensland in Game II, Luai took to Instagram in the early hours of Thursday morning.

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Luai came under fire and quickly became public enemy No. 1 in Queensland when he stood over Maroons captain Daly Cherry-Evans.

And in the dying stages of the bloodbath contest the Penrith Panthers star was sent off after headbutting Maroons fullback Reece Walsh.

Luai appeared to respond to his critics with a pointed Instagram post after the game.

The post on his Instagram stories showed him sitting against the Suncorp Stadium goalposts with a controversial caption.

“Chill,” Luai wrote in the early hours of Thursday morning. “All you idiots have work tomorrow morning,” along with seven crying laughing emojis.

At the bottom of the image Luai then wrote: “we go again,” alongside a samurai emoji.

It was believed Luai was labelling his critics “idiots”, but Fittler has revealed Luai’s post was in fact prompted by alleged death threats he had received following the Blues’ loss.

Jarome Luai's spicy Instagram post.

Brad Fittler said Luai received death threats. Picture: John Appleyard

“I think that was a reaction to some death threats he got on social media,” Fittler said on Thursday.

“To put it in context, he was, there was a reaction to what people were saying on his social media.

“So let’s not try to blow it out of proportion and gauge (if the post was directed) towards a certain type of supporter.”

Gotta say, we need to keep in mind that players receive unending abuse on social media that would drive most to despair. Luai hitting back after receiving death threats is no more than anyone else would and should do.

— cody kaye (@Cody_KayeFOX) June 22, 2023

Luai’s Insta story quickly spread around social media with fans left in disbelief. Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said the upload left him “gobsmacked”.

“I am looking at an Instagram post and I am gobsmacked,” Voss said on SEN.

“What the hell is that. This is not a player representing the state.

“Jarome Luai, how is anyone meant to take that? Jarome Luai what the hell have you done.

“How could an Instagram post be a motivation after losing a game and the series is lost?”

Luai, like many of his Blues teammates, failed to fire on Wednesday night as the Maroons made it back-to-back series wins.

He came under constant fire before the contest got underway and right through until the final whistle blew.

As both teams lined up for the national anthems, fans couldn’t help but notice Luai and Payne Haas had refused to link arms with their teammates.

Haas and Luai doing their own thing. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The criticism came flooding in during the early stages of the contest after dumping Cherry-Evans to the turf before standing over the top of him.

“Daly Cherry-Evans on the ground there, they got tangled and then Luai stands over the top of Daly Cherry-Evans,” Cameron Smith said on Nine.

Mat Thompson added: “The crowd don’t like the extra attention from Jarome Luai. This is tense. They don’t know what went on there.”

In the dying moments Luai thrust himself back into controversy when he came head-to-head with Walsh.

Luai stands over DCE during Origin 2.

Jarome Luai of the Blues and Reece Walsh of the Maroons scuffle. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

A tussle between the two sides broke out following a late hit on Walsh. As the players came together Luai confronted the Queensland fullback before both men were sent off for headbutting.

Luai opened up on the outburst in the dying stages and put it down to his competitive spirit taking over.

“Just a bit of emotion, I’m a sore loser as well so I am just disappointed man,” Luai said.

“I just hate to lose, they won … it’s footy for me, what happens on the field stays on the field.

“It’s a good rivalry we have now, but Queensland won the series so good on them.”

The verbal barbs flew between Luai and Walsh, but the NSW Blues player refused to indulge when asked what was said between the pair.

“I’m not going to repeat what was said out there, but if you want to ask him he might tell you,” Luai said.

“He won the Origin series and yeah … no (it didn’t cross the line), it is fair game.”

Both players have avoided bans for the ugly late-game altercation, but were both fined $6900.

Blues winger Josh Addo-Carr was also fined for punching Walsh.