$1.2m Luai question exposed as ‘obvious destination’ emerges for Galvin — Crawls

Posting a message about “Team First” on social media is one thing.

Now it’s time for Jarome Luai to puts those words into actions.

We are about to find out what sort of leader Luai is. And whether he is really worth the $1.2 million a season Wests Tigers are paying him.

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In the wake of Luai’s social media dig at Lachlan Galvin this week, for the first time Luai’s style of leadership is under the microscope.

Let’s not forget Luai was also questioned by his former coach Ivan Cleary before he even left the Panthers as to whether he had it in him to be the “main man” without Nathan Cleary beside him.

You may remember when it first emerged that the Tigers were prepared to pay huge money to sign Luai back in late 2023, coach Cleary was outspoken about whether Nathan Cleary’s former deputy was up to the challenge of being chief playmaker on the big pay packet.

Cleary said at the time: “I think that’s the biggest thing at play here. Is he ready for that? That’s a question mark.

“Could he do it? I’m sure he can do it.

“Has he done it? No, he hasn’t.

“He’s done a little bit with Samoa of course (at the previous World Cup) … but generally speaking, in this team (Penrith) he’s had his role to play.

“So it would be slightly different. So I guess that’s the risk that everyone would have to take.”

Cleary’s comments obviously stung Luai back then because he responded with a not-so-subtle dig on Instagram, “know your worth”.

Fast forward a year and a half and the irony this week is Luai has now done an about-face on that previous statement with another post this time spruiking “Team First”.

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Jarome Luai , Lachie Galvin and Jahream Bula. Source: News Corp Australia

On the surface it’s understandable it has led to some claims of hypocrisy, given how Luai left the Panthers last year.

But anyone with one iota of rugby league IQ should be able to work out the circumstances here in relation to Galvin are very different.

In Luai’s case he gave seven years of NRL service to the Panthers and won four premierships in the process after graduating through their junior ranks.

In Galvin’s case, he’s made his call following a wooden spoon in his debut year, at the same club that gave him his dream opportunity after Parramatta didn’t see a future in him.

Don’t forget Galvin also has the best part of another two years to run on his existing contract — and is not supposed to even negotiate with rivals until November 1.

But not only did his management knock back a stunning $6 million offer for Galvin to stay (the richest deal in the club’s history), but it was done with such disrespect towards Benji Marshall that it can surely only be perceived as a blatant attempt to get out of his contract early, despite the denials.

Also, how anyone can possibly comprehend that a 19-year-old would compile a dossier about his grievances with his coach without being put up to it by someone he trusts defies logic.

Luai & Turuva turn on Galvin | 00:52

I certainly feel sorry for Galvin who is only 19 and I believe has been hung out to dry by those supposedly acting in his best interests.

But even though some now want to turn it back on the Tigers players for not showing a so-called duty of care for Galvin’s wellbeing these past few days, it’s certainly no surprise it caused the backlash it did amongst his teammates.

There is no doubt some of the details that emerged this week including the “here comes the money” post from Sunia Turuva does border on bullying a so-called work colleague.

But let’s not kids ourselves here.

This is a football club made up of tough and super competitive young men where survival of the fittest and strongest is the law of the jungle, not some government department where political correctness establishes neat boundaries.

Jarome Luai ahead of the 2025 NRL season. Picture: Richard Dobson Source: News Corp Australia

As for Luai’s leadership, he now needs to put the Galvin fallout in the background and make his chief responsibility keeping the players focussed leading into Monday’s clash against a team sitting last on the ladder but with their chief playmaker Mitchell Moses finally back on deck.

With the Tigers sitting seventh on the ladder, now is not the time for the reigning three-time wooden spooners to take a backward step.

There is no question losing Galvin will take some of the spark out of their attack.

But this is also a chance for Luai to galvanise this squad and make that “Team First” Instagram post more than just a couple of cheap words.

There is no doubt this is Luia’s first major test as a leader without the security blanket that was his former powerhouse club around him.

And while the Panthers’ slide down the ladder this year has already highlighted to many how much the reigning champs miss Luai, how Luai navigates this next period will also be the making or breaking of the Tigers’ hopes of playing finals football this year, and potentially his own future as a leader.

Elias defends Galvin from Tigers leaders | 04:07

GALVIN’S MOST LIKELY NEW HOME + ‘PROUD NEW OWNERS OF ROOSTERS’ SALARY CAP SOMBRERO’

NRL club land is divided over where Lachlan Galvin will end up.

Some good judges make great sense as to why they think Parramatta is the obvious destination given the pending departure of Dylan Brown backed up by the fact Mitchell Moses is the cousin of Galvin’s agent, Isaac Moses.

Others think the Bulldogs remain the favourites despite Phil Gould’s denials.

Some are even starting to call the Bulldogs the proud new owners of the Roosters’ salary cap sombrero.

The problem the Dogs have here though is even if halfback Toby Sexton was forced out, Galvin just doesn’t make a logical halves partner for Matt Burton, who has previously shown he does not suit the chief playmaking role.

The other option would be to move Burton to centre to partner Bronson Xerri and Stephen Crichton to fullback, although Connor Tracey is doing a great job in the No 1 spot.

The dark horse in the race are the Panthers given Galvin would make an ideal halves partner for Nathan Cleary. And if money is not the real motivation for wanting out, surely playing beside Cleary would be a massive lure for any young five-eighth.

Don’t forget agent Moses controversially moved former Eels young gun Blaize Talagi to the Panthers this year.

Canterbury GM of football Phil Gould. Source: News Corp Australia

JUDICIARY EXPOSES HIGH TACKLE FARCE

There was a massive win for rugby league common sense during the week that got buried in the Lachlan Galvin drama.

And that was Rabbitohs prop Sean Keppie beating his grade two careless high tackle charge at the judiciary, which frees him to play against the Bulldogs on Good Friday.

It was joke Keppie was looking at a match suspension given Scott Drinkwater slipped on the turf before he was collected “high” by Keppie in Perth, and the force was so incidental that Drinkwater was not injured and did not stay down.

Hopefully this decision encourages more teams to tackle some of the overzealous high contact charges in the game at present.

What separates a grade one fine and a grade two suspension is almost impossible to separate under the current system.

Keppie is a huge inclusion for the Bunnies up against the unbeaten Dogs.

Galvin Bulldogs bound after Gus praise? | 03:32

LATRELL V CRICHTON MUST-WATCH RUGBY LEAGUE

Big games bring out the best in big games players.

And having Latrell Mitchell mark up on the same side of the field as Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton in the Friday blockbuster will make for must-watch rugby league.

I also can’t wait to see what impact Cody Walker’s return has on Mitchell playing five-eighth.

Cooper Cronk made the point last week that Latrell needed to play with a run-first mentality against the Cowboys or the Rabbitohs didn’t stand a chance.

Latrell finished the match with three runs for 44 metres.

But I think we can expect Latrell to run the ball a lot more than he did with Walker back pulling the strings.

Who comes out on top in the showdown between two of the most powerful forces in the game in Mitchell and Crichton could go a long way to deciding this game.

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