Jarome Luai move a 'blow' to Wests Tigers as NRL star puts country ahead of new club
The Tigers will have to go without Luai for the start of their NRL pre-season, with their star recruit set to captain Samoa.
The Wests Tigers will be without star recruit Jarome Luai for the start of pre-season after the four-time premiership-winning playmaker confirmed he will captain Samoa on their tour of England in October and November. Luai's choice to play the two Tests for Samoa was a difficult one given the fact he will attend his first Tigers pre-season session weeks after the bulk of his new teammates' 2025 NRL preparations get underway.
Luai will lead a Samoan side that includes Izack Tago, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Terrell May, Jeremiah Nanai, Deine Mariner and Blaize Talagi. The five-eighth missed last year's post-season series with a shoulder injury but with previous captain Junior Paulo, Tommy Talau, Murray Taulagi, Heilum Luki, Brian To'o (all injured), Stephen Crichton (wedding), Spencer Leniu and Stefano Utoikamanu (both personal reasons) all out, Luai decided he needed to represent his country before he turns his full attention to the Tigers.
"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.
"(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."
Jarome Luai's decision will hurt Wests Tigers' pre-season
The news of Luai committing to playing for Samoa in the NRL off-season comes as a huge blow to the Tigers who will have to go the first month of training without their star recruit. And leading NRL journalist Michael Carayannis told SEN radio that Benji Marshall would have undoubtedly wanted the five-eighth for the start of pre-season as he was brought into the club not only for his NRL ability but also his leadership qualities.
"With Jarome Luai opting to captain Samoa in their tour of England it means he won't get back to train with the Wests Tigers until the new year," Carayannis said. "The Tigers would obviously love him there as early as they can with the late start off the back of a grand final but they won't get a chance to see Jarome in Tigers colours until next year.
"Obviously a bit of a blow for the Tigers in getting those combinations right and just the standard leadership they need which is set in the preseason. But Jarome good on him, he's gone and elected to captain Samoa while a lot of his other teammates have pulled out. He'll stay the course and captain his country."
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Jeremiah Nanai switches international allegiance
North Queensland's Jeremiah Nanai represented Australia at the 2022 World Cup but has decided he ultimately wants to represent his Pacific roots moving forward. Samoan coach Ben Gardiner revealed Nanai will be part of the Samoan squad for the tour of England after taking Tuivasa-Sheck's lead in switching allegiances after the former New Zealand international decided to represent Samoa in August.
"I said to Jeremiah that Roger's playing, and he said, 'Well, I'm definitely playing too'. It's a little bit of a domino effect when you have elite players come and join your team," Gardiner revealed.
Samoan squad for England Test series:
Anthony Milford, Blaize Seuala-Talagi, Deine Mariner, Francis Molo, Gordon Chan Kum Tong, Izack Tago, Jake Tago, Jarome Luai, Jazz Tevaga, Jeral Skelton, Jeremiah Nanai, John Asiata, Josiah Pahulu, Junior Pauga, Keenan Palasia, Lazarus Vaalepu, Luciano Leilua, Paul Roache, Ricky Leutele, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Shawn Blore, Simi Sasagi, Terrell May.
