Benji Marshall cops brutal Api Koroisau and Jarome Luai blow after international setback

Wests Tigers fans will most likely have to wait an extra week to see Jarome Luai and Api Koroisau link up for their club having been dealt a tough blow ahead of the 2025 season. Koroisau was handed a three-match ban for his dangerous throw on Clint Gutherson in the final game of the 2024 NRL season.

In good news for the Tigers, Koroisau was granted permission to serve his ban for Fiji during the international schedule. However, Fiji were dealt a huge blow on Saturday after PNG defeated Bati in a shock away win in the Pacific Bowl.

Fiji are facing an uphill battle to qualify for the Pacific Bowl final and won't play an extra game if they don't top the group. This means Koroisau is set to only serve two of his suspended games in the international arena.

Benji Marshall will most likely be forced to hold off on debuting new signing Luai and Koroisau together in Wests Tigers colours with the No.9 to serve the final game of his ban in the season opener. This is a blow to the Wests Tigers who will be looking to turn around their fortunes having finished with the wooden spoon in 2024.

Koroisau was the players' player for the Tigers last season and his absence, even just for a game, is a setback for the coach. Anticipation is already building within the fanbase to see Luai and Koroisau link-up again. Koroisau's unfortunate setback comes as Luai opted to include himself in Samoa's tour of England, a blow for Marshall and the Tigers' pre-season training.

Jarome Luai's Samoa inclusion a Tigers setback

Many expected Luai to follow in the path of former Penrith teammates Liam Martin, Brian To'o and Nathan Cleary and skip the international schedule. The Panthers players endured a gruelling season and many opted to rest or recover from injuries after the NRL grand final, instead of playing international footy for their nation.

However, in what could be seen as a blow for Marshall and the Tigers, Luai decided to represent his nation as Samoa visit England. Luai will miss the start of pre-season with his new club, but admitted he always wanted to represent Samoa when other teammates were not afforded the opportunity.

"I'd sort of been contemplating it a bit. It's been a long year, my body's a bit sore and I've got to start a new club. I didn't want to set that back any further," he said. "But I'd be doing myself a disservice and my family name a disservice if I didn't go over there and lace up the boots for my country.

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"(To'o and Crichton being unavailable) was more reason why I needed to, I needed to hold it down for the boys. They've got some things going on in the off-season, and rightfully so. I'll go over there and hold it down."

The move is somewhat of a blow for the Tigers with Luai brought into the club for his leadership qualities. Although many fans can't wait for him to link-up with exciting youngster Lachlan Galvin and former Panthers teammate Koroisau in Tigers' colours.

Fiji stunned in Pacific Bowl upset

While Fiji had 10 players who featured in the NRL this year, they could not match the enthusiasm of a spirited PNG outfit. Jason Demetriou got his international Pacific Bowl debut off to a great start as coach of PNG as they used the momentum from the previous week to runaway with the game against Fiji.

Former NRL player Nene Macdonald was the best on field and he was helped by former Cowboys winger Robert Derby. The winger intercepted two Viliame Kikau passes with both leading to tries. Derby's first try saw him run 90 metres to set the tone for PNG.