Luai's no-show at Tigers end of season awards questioned

SEN’s Andrew Voss has questioned outgoing Wests Tigers playmaker Jarome Luai after the four-time Premiership winner failed to attend the club’s end of season awards.

Tigers forward Alex Twal received the Kelly-Barned Medal in a ceremony on Tuesday night for the Best and Fairest award. Raecene McGregor took out the NRLW Player of the year for the Tigers.

However, Luai, who will join Parramatta in 2027, was a no-show at the awards ceremony which raised Voss’ eyebrows.

“I co-hosted the Tigers awards night,” Voss said on SEN 1170.

“Tigers fans, you do need to hear this. Benji Marshall mentioned the Jarome Luai signing (to PNG).

“He said it shouldn’t have affected them but it did. He said they were disconnected. There was quite obviously tension and that’s the reality of a professional workplace.

“It must be a wretched position to be in.

“Jarome Luai was not at the awards night. I reckon every player was there except for Jarome Luai.

“It’s been a week and a half since their last game and he wasn’t there.”

Luai was unable to attend the awards night as he was in Samoa at the time. A fact that was confirmed on the 29-year-old’s Instagram.

The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio believes Luai’s absence is symbolic of his stint at the embattled club.

“An insight into the room at the Wests Tigers awards nights. This is a football club that had so much hope at the start of the season,” Riccio added on SEN 1170.

“They were then mired by the same off-field drama and controversy that they’ve always been in.

“Where was the hope in the room on Tuesday night? Clearly Benji is searching for leadership.

“Benji needs genuine leaders in the dressing room and setting standards off the field.

“Tigers officials are saying they were aware of a conflict with Samoa rugby league.

“On the surface, I find it very disappointing. After everything that has happened this season with Jarome Luai, it would’ve been the right thing to do.

“Purely on the basis of optics, it would’ve been the right thing to do.”

Luai will play for Samoa at the Rugby League World Cup before joining the Eels for the 2027 season.

Parramatta begin their 2027 campaign in Las Vegas against the Gold Coast Titans.