Jarome Luai hits out at Benji Marshall disrespect as Tigers coach makes sad admission
Jarome Luai has lifted the lid on the ‘messy’ Tigers situation amid a major revelation about his exiled halves partner Lachlan Galvin.
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Jarome Luai has hit out at the blatant disrespect shown by his halves partner Lachlan Galvin towards Benji Marshall, as the star halfback revealed the entire leadership squad felt blindsided by his decision to leave the club.
Earlier this week Galvin, 19, decided to reject a five-year deal worth up to $6 million and was consequently dropped to NSW Cup for this weekend.
Galvin’s management, led by player-manager Isaac Moses, reportedly had no interest in listening to the Tigers’ offer for their client and informed the club that he had no faith in Marshall’s coaching ability believing he doesn’t have the tools to develop him into a star of the game.
And although the teenager is contracted until the end of next season, his position looks increasingly untenable after backlash from teammates, including Luai.
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Speaking about the situation on Thursday, Luai said the whole focus around this season has been about putting the team first and says he feels the way Galvin has disrespected head coach Marshall goes against everything the team stands for.
“As a playing group, we’re trying to do all we do best and try and get wins on the board and improve this club’s position,” Luai said at the Tigers press conference on Thursday.
“But he’s our coach, and at the end of the day, if you disrespect him, you disrespect us as a team. I don’t stand for that.
“From what’s been said, I think he has (been disrespected). But that’s been dealt with internally.”
You can watch the full Wests Tigers press conference in the player above.
Tigers blindsided by Lachlan Galvin’s decision to leave
The decision for Galvin to leave rocked the Tigers playing group and staff, with many feeling blindsided.
And Marshall says it was a decision that both “shocked” and “disappointed” him before sadly admitted the young playmaker is far from the first person to question his coaching ability.
“I was shocked by it and a little bit disappointed but everyone thinks I can’t coach anyway,” Marshall said.
“But I’ll always back the way I do things. I want what’s best and will do what’s best and if I’m not the best option (as Tigers coach) I’ll go.
“ … We revolved a lot of things around him but he owes me nothing, or the club nothing.”
Benji Marshall and Jarome Luai reject ‘bullying’ accusation
Meanwhile, the blowback from teammates, including critical social media posts, has been dubbed borderline bullying.
However, while Luai admitted no member of the leadership team had spoken one-on-one with him since, he refuted the accusations that he had been bullied.
“(The social media posts are) about throwing support behind the coach and the club. Working hard to have team-first behaviours,” Luai said.
“I don’t think it (Turuva’s post) was meant for everybody and if anyone knows Tito (Turuva), he’s a jokeful dude so you’ll have to ask him but I think he should stay off social media for a bit.”
It’s understood Turuva’s Instagram story about Galvin was sent to a small group of friends via the ‘close friends’ feature, but was later leaked and found it’s way into the media.
Marshall also insisted bullying is something the club would not stand for, and while admitting the teenager is facing serious scrutiny, rejects the notion the playing group has bullied him.
“I don’t think he’s being bullied by the other players,” Marshall snapped back.
“I think emotional responses to things happening might seem like it, but there’s been no sense of bullying at our club and we don’t stand for bullying.
“I talked to the team about it this morning. That’s not us. We’re not bullies. Our players are not bullies.
“They had emotional reactions to one of their teammates, but it’s not bullying. I can guarantee you that.”
Jarome Luai and Benji Marshall address Lachlan Galvin axing
The four-time premiership winner was among the players who backed the coach’s decision to drop Galvin to NSW Cup this weekend, which Marshall said was best “on a lot of levels”.
“As the coach, I have to decide what I think is best for the team and what’s going to win this week,” Marshall said.
“On a lot of levels, it is best that he doesn’t play this week.
“But at the end of the day, that was my call.
“I made that decision. And I had the support of my senior group, which was important.”
Just when or if Galvin returns to the NRL remains unclear.
But Marshall said it was time to ease back on the criticism of the teen playmaker.
“Let’s just chill with all the s**t that’s coming his way and just let him play footy,” Marshall said.
“Everyone thinks I can’t coach anyway, so it’s not that different to what’s been said.”
– with NewsWire
Originally published as Jarome Luai hits out at Benji Marshall disrespect as Tigers coach makes sad admission
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