NRL

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has given his most candid thoughts yet on Jarome Luai, saying the divisive public perception of the departing Tigers captain is very different to the person his teammates know, while also delivering a subtle but pointed parting shot of his own.

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Asked whether it was fair to call Luai ‘polarising’ after the five-eighth spent yet another week in the news for off-field matters Marshall conceded that ‘externally it probably looks like it.’

But he insisted anyone who had worked closely with Luai would tell a different story.

“What you actually see versus what you get are very different,” Marshall said ahead of the Round 27 clash with Luai’s former club Penrith, while acknowledging it’s part of what fans love about the NRL.

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“There’s villains and there’s heroes and for some reason Jarome always gets painted as the villain,” he added, before suggesting that’s certain to change when Luai takes the field for the PNG Chiefs in 2028.

“He’s about to walk into a country in about 12 months time where he’s going to be the hero.”

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On the subject of PNG, Marshall was pressed for his thoughts on Luai’s flying visit to Port Moresby after last Saturday night’s Round 26 loss to the Cowboys in Townsville, rather than returning to Sydney with the rest of the Tigers squad. 

“What he chooses to do in his time off, that’s up to him,” Marshall said.

Marshall admits he didn’t know about Luai’s latest PNG trip

Asked whether Luai, as Tigers captain, should possibly have waited until the end of the season before making the trip Marshall deflected, but his thoughts were clear enough.

“That’s a question you can ask him,” he said.

Marshall was also asked whether he knew in advance that Luai was leaving his teammates in Townsville. 

“No… but it’s irrelevant whether I knew or not,” he said before making a parting comment that spoke volumes for the Tigers and potentially the Eels where Luai will play in 2027.

“In one week’s time he’s not going to be here anymore and we’re not going to have to worry about any of those things.”

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