Updated ,first published
Benji Marshall says it is unfair to blame Jarome Luai for Wests Tigers’ spluttering form after the star half signed a multimillion-dollar deal with the PNG Chiefs in April.
The Tigers won five of their first seven games to start the year, but have lost four of their past five, including a 68-0 humiliation against Penrith last Sunday, since the Chiefs confirmed Luai as their marquee signing for their first season in the NRL in 2028.
The loss of injured trio Adam Doueihi, Samuela Fainu and Taylan May – the club’s halfback, rising star back-rower and strike centre – have not helped, but the Tigers’ $1.2 million-a-season man Luai has also been down on form.
Luai stressed at the time of announcing his mega deal with the Chiefs that he was “committed to the team and my brothers” at the Tigers for the next 18 months.
But the numbers suggest things have changed, with the Tigers scoring just 66 points and conceding 226 points in their past five games. Given their form slump, the Tigers have naturally been asked to defend more, with Luai missing 23 tackles during that run.
Marshall knew the Luai signing could become a distraction if the Tigers started to struggle.
“It will become a distraction if you let it, and if you don’t find the results, then they’ll find the excuses to make that a distraction,” Marshall said on Friday.
“We haven’t had the results, so people are always going to point to that.
“But it’s deeper than that. You don’t like making excuses, [but] we have a lot of our key players out, and what we haven’t done is adapt enough in those games to defend better.
“You can talk all you want about Jarome’s decision to go to PNG, but there are 18 other players in the squad that need to do their job as well [each week].”
Api Koroisau has been recalled to the NSW Origin squad for game two in Melbourne, meaning Luai will have even more responsibility to lead the Tigers around the park when they farewell Leichhardt Oval on Sunday for the next 18 months.
The inner-western Sydney ground will receive a $40 million makeover, including a revamp of the western grandstand, and construction of a new northern grandstand, which will be completed in time for the 2028 season.
Marshall said Luai’s job against the Gold Coast on Sunday was simple: “Go out and play the way Jarome plays his best footy.”
“I don’t want him to take on the pressure and bear the expectation of the whole team – he doesn’t need that,” Marshall said.
“When Jarome is at his best, he’s defending well, and aggressively, and he’s upbeat with his attack.
“We need to get around him and give him those opportunities. It will be a team effort, not just Jarome. The focus shouldn’t be on what he’s doing, it should be on the whole team.”
The Tigers, meanwhile, were linked to Israel Folau during the week, but Marshall said the club had no interest in the former Wallaby.
“No, we’re not signing him,” Marshall said.
NRL fines Panthers and Laurie
Adrian Proszenko
The NRL has fined Penrith and Daine Laurie for not reporting alleged illicit drug use to the integrity unit.
Laurie was charged by police after being stopped in Penrith on September 29, the morning after his then Panthers side lost a preliminary final to Brisbane. Officers allegedly found a bag containing 0.37 grams of cocaine.
The utility back was poised to face Penrith local court on November 10, but the charges were dropped the day before. Under NSW laws, people found with a small quantity of cocaine can avoid court if they pay a $400 on-the-spot fine. However, the NRL still expects to be informed of any such incidents and has taken action against the Panthers and Laurie.
The NRL confirmed the club had been fined, while details of breach notices handed to players are not disclosed. However, Laurie, now playing for Canberra, won’t miss any matches.
The decision will come as a relief to the Raiders, who were unaware of the incident when they signed Laurie and did not want to pay a penalty for a matter that occurred when he was still on Penrith’s payroll.
Laurie, who has been named at five-eighth for Canberra’s clash with Parramatta on Saturday, has five business days to respond to the breach notice.
Kieran Foran was spotted in NSW Origin camp on Thursday. Here’s why
Christian Nicolussi
Manly coach Kieran Foran has completed a 200km round trip just to have a coffee and check in on axed NSW star Haumole Olakau’atu.
Foran, who was decked out in club kit, made a surprise visit to the Blues’ Central Coast base on Thursday to catch up with his back-rower, who was relegated to 20th man duties at the start of the week.
Olakau’atu started in the back row in game one and was more than solid – his one sin was cramping late in the game – only to lose his starting role to Newcastle’s Dylan Lucas.
The Olakau’atu snub was a hot topic, with plenty of commentators questioning the decision to leave the Manly wrecking ball out of the extended squad altogether.
Sea Eagles coach Foran said himself at the start of the week: “All I’ll say is I wouldn’t swap Haumole for any back-rower in the competition.”
When asked about the impromptu visit to the Central Coast, Foran told this masthead: “I messaged ‘Shmole’ on Wednesday, asking him what his schedule was like the following day, he told me he had some free time in the arvo, so I said, ‘Beauty, I’ll pop up and have a coffee with you’.
“I just wanted to check in on him – I deadset care about him. I know it can be really hard as a player when you miss out on these representative sides. He was looking forward to playing against Queensland, but now he’s obviously not playing.
“I wanted to let him know we were all here for him and all of us at the Sea Eagles love him. The drive was nothing because me and my wife [Karina] still have a lot of family in the area, so it’s not unusual for me to make the trip up there once every couple of weeks or so. It was nice to see him. He’s a huge part of our footy team – he always will be.”
Manly parted ways with Anthony Seibold after three losses to start the year and appointed Foran in a caretaker capacity. The Manly legend was handed the job on a permanent basis until the end of 2029 after the Sea Eagles charged into the top four under his stewardship.
They have the bye this weekend and play Canterbury next round, with a fresh Olakau’atu and returning fullback Tom Trbojevic.
Dragons star requests release
Adrian Proszenko
St George Illawarra forward Luciano Leilua has requested an immediate release from the club.
Leilua, off contract at the end of the season, has been one of the Dragons’ better players in a side that has won one game in 2026 and is sitting last on the NRL ladder. However, he has been frustrated by his lack of game time, prompting the Samoan international to ask interim coach Dean Young to drop him to NSW Cup to get more minutes.
Leilua had a blinder against Newtown in the lower grade on Saturday, scoring a try and running for 199 metres from 18 hit-ups. But the lack of certainty about his future – the former Tigers and Cowboys back-rower has not been offered a contract for next season – has prompted him to want to leave before the June 30 transfer deadline.
A release was formally requested this week in the hope Leilua can get a fresh start at another club. While the club has not yet provided a definitive answer, it is likely the 30-year-old has played his last game in the Red V.
Given the Dragons aren’t in finals contention, releasing Leilua could save them salary cap funds that could go towards another recruitment target, or to bump up the salaries of one of their promising juniors.
Given his recent form – Leilua is averaging 133 running metres this season – he should not have any trouble finding another club for the rest of the campaign.
In other Dragons news, powerbroker Peter Doust has ended his long-time association with the club. Doust, a former chief executive of the Red V, has stepped down from the board. His successor is former Westpac chief executive Peter King.
“The Dragons have been a significant part of my life, and it has been a privilege to serve the club over many years,” Doust said.
“I have been fortunate to work with many dedicated people across the organisation and to share in moments that will always mean a great deal to me.”
Israel Folau posts his support for gay footballer Kane Evans on social media
Adrian Proszenko
Israel Folau has indicated support on social media for footballer Kane Evans after he came out as gay in an apparent backflip in his views about homosexuality.
Evans – who played for the Roosters, Eels and Warriors during a 131-game NRL career that ended in 2021 – detailed his struggles with alcohol, substance addiction and suicidal thoughts while wrestling with his sexuality during an emotional interview aired on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy on Monday night.
There has been an outpouring of support from the league and wider community, including from NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, former teammates Victory Radley and Australian comedian and actor Magda Szubanski.
But perhaps the most unexpected backing has come from Folau. Kane Evans recently posted on Instagram: “No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I love and accept who I am. Thank you God. Sa liu o koya.”
One of the respondents was Folau, who posted two love heart emojis.
It appears to be an about-face from Folau. In 2018, in response to a user on Instagram asking Folau what “God’s plan for gay people” was, Folau replied directly to the comment, stating: “HELL… Unless they repent of their sins and turn to God.”
Folau was later sacked by Rugby Australia for expressing similar views about homosexuals. The governing body subsequently apologised as part of a confidential settlement after Folau filed an unfair dismissal case.
Folau’s latest post comes at a time when he is attempting to return to the NRL. After ending his tenure at Japanese rugby club Urayasu D-Rocks, the 37-year-old’s management approached Wests Tigers about the prospect of a stunning comeback to the competition with Benji Marshall’s team.
However, the Tigers chose not to reactivate an NRL career that ended when he played the last of his 91 games with the Broncos in 2010.
Blues stars to break camp for Jai Arrow’s special night
Christian Nicolussi
Payne Haas and Cameron Murray will break from NSW Origin camp and make the three-hour round trip to Sydney to support good mate Jai Arrow.
South Sydney will on Thursday night play their first home game since Arrow announced he had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease and was forced to immediately retire.
In a special touch, Souths have named Arrow in the No.23 jersey. Arrow will ring the club’s Legacy Bell before kick-off against the Broncos. Players from both clubs will form a guard of honour and a video tribute will be screened at Accor Stadium.
Arrow, 30, was invited to Melbourne for the Big Freeze coin toss before the Collingwood-Melbourne AFL blockbuster on Monday. The annual fixture has become a tribute to the late Neale Daniher, a much-loved AFL player and coach who fought MND after being diagnosed with the condition in 2013.
Arrow started his career at the Broncos, then spent three years on the Gold Coast before linking with Souths.
Haas, who attended Keebra Park High with Arrow, crossed paths with him in his early years at Red Hill and will join Souths next year, said: “It’s a really important night for both clubs, and I want to make sure I’m there to support our boys and to support Jai.
“‘Jaiza’ is the toughest bloke on the field and off the field. I know he’ll beat this battle.
“I couldn’t even watch the interview [on Nine with Danika Mason]. Knowing Jaiza, he’s such a comedian, he’s the man, and seeing that was so tough.
“I know he’ll come through the other side That’s just who Jaiza is.”
The NRL has already discussed a promotion to raise funds and awareness about MND tentatively dubbed “Jai July”, while the South Sydney-Newcastle clash on July 12 – Arrow’s birthday – will see fans asked to bring donations for MND charities.
The Broncos will also have Arrow’s name and club number, 222, embroidered on their jerseys, which will then be auctioned off and the proceeds donated to the forward and his young family.
Brisbane will be without Haas and fellow Origin representatives Kotoni Staggs and Reece Walsh, while Souths are missing Murray and Campbell Graham, who has been sidelined by another calf strain.
Meanwhile, Benji Marshall has made major changes to Wests Tigers’ starting side following Sunday’s 68-0 thrashing by NRL heavyweights Penrith.
None of Tino Tavana, Charlie Murray or Mavrik Geyer will start in Sunday’s clash against Gold Coast, which follows the second-biggest loss in the joint venture’s history.
Marshall, who labelled the Tigers “brain-dead” after full-time on Sunday, has remodelled his backline by cutting Tavana, shifting Heamasi Makasini to a wing and recalling Starford To’a.
Taylan May returns from his shoulder injury at centre, pushing Sunia Turuva to his preferred wing spot, with Jeral Skelton dropping out of the squad due to HIA protocols. Tony Sukkar comes into the back row for Geyer, with Sione Fainu listed to start at lock in place of Murray.
The Tigers have also brought Latu Fainu in at hooker in place of NSW representative Api Koroisau, while injured Royce Hunt drops out of the team.
