School’s out as ‘teacher’ Luai named for NRL return
Jasper Bruce |
Jarome Luai has been in “teacher” mode but is set to swap the blackboard for the black and orange jersey as Wests Tigers eye a first four-game winning streak since 2012.
The Tigers have named Luai at five-eighth to face Brisbane on Saturday, four weeks after the gun playmaker hurt his knee in the round-three loss to South Sydney.
Luai is one of the NRL’s most vivacious customers, memorably appointing himself “chief energy officer” during Penrith’s charmed run of premierships.
But the 29-year-old has taken on a different persona to help the Tigers win all three games during his absence.
“He’s been more of a teacher and a coach than anything else,” said hooker Api Koroisau.
“He hasn’t been in the ear of us as a team, he’s sort of stepped back, but at the same time, he’s been helping individuals and really lending his leadership in that way.
“He’s been really important.”
Tipped as a starting half of the future, utility Latu Fainu has benefited from Luai’s lessons coming off the bench to play handy minutes at lock.
“(He helps with) defence mostly, and just attitude during games. I’m in that role with the impact player so ‘Romey’ always keeps me on my toes,” Fainu said.
Koroisau is looking forward to having his co-captain’s energy back on the field against the depleted Broncos.
“We’re so different as people so he puts a whole different perspective. He’s very much in there and full of energy,” Koroisau said.
Luai’s return boosts the second-placed Tigers’ chances of piecing together their first four-game winning streak since claiming seven victories on the bounce in 2012.
That run of form was so long ago that no member of last week’s Tigers team had yet made their NRL debut, but Koroisau is not becoming carried away in round seven.
“I don’t know if it’s a revival (yet), we’re sort of just out there playing week-to-week and trying to play some good footy,” he said.
Jock Madden drops to the bench to accommodate Luai’s return, after an excellent three weeks partnering Adam Doueihi in the halves.
Madden was instrumental in big wins over the Warriors and Newcastle and kicked the winning penalty goal in the golden-point defeat of Parramatta on Easter Monday.
“We’ve got a lot of depth in our team this year. That’s been a big bonus for us,” said forward Alex Seyfarth.
AAP