NRL pre-season: Jarome Luai era kicks off at Wests Tigers as $6m man arrives ahead of schedule
Jarome Luai has touched down in Tigertown earlier than expected, with the $6m man reporting for his first pre-season session alongside another star recruit. See the latest pre-season news and pictures.
It’s happening.
The Jarome Luai era has officially begun earlier than expected after the $6 million man reported for duty at Wests Tigers training on Tuesday.
Luai wasn’t expected at Concord until December 21 and his early return gives him and new halves partner Lachlan Galvin a chance to work on their combination and hit the ground running ahead of the Tigers’ Round 1 clash against Newcastle in Campbelltown on March 7.
Four-time premiership-winning, former Panther Luai, ripped in for his first session as a Tiger along with fellow ex-Penrith star Sunia Turuva.
The pair who played their final game for Penrith in the grand final in October, arrive at Concord with plenty of expectation as they look to help lift the Tigers off the canvas to avoid a fourth straight wooden spoon.
Still two months away from trials, Tigers fans will need to wait to see their new look squad in action, but for the first time in a long time fans are feeling the excitement in Tigertown.
Jarome Luai training with the Tigers. Picture: Tigers Instagram
Sunia Turuva also joined the pre-season. Picture: Tigers Instagram
Luai, who played for Samoa in the three-Test series against England which concluded in November, is coming to the club not only to wear the No.7 jersey but to call the shots as the chief playmaker after playing second fiddle to Nathan Cleary at Penrith.
The 27-year-old Luai signed a mammoth, five-year contract before the start of the 2024 season, but is only required to stay for two years due to clauses put in place by his management.
Luai and Turuva joined fellow new Tigers Jack Bird, Royce Hunt and Jeral Skelton who have been training since the middle of November.
Still absent was former Sydney Roosters prop Terrell May who is due back next week after playing for Samoa.
The Tigers kick off their Pre-Season Challenge campaign against Canterbury on February 16.
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
NRL pre-season: Jarome Luai era kicks off at Wests Tigers as $6m man arrives ahead of schedule
Jarome Luai has touched down in Tigertown earlier than expected, with the $6m man reporting for his first pre-season session alongside another star recruit. See the latest pre-season news and pictures.
It’s happening.
The Jarome Luai era has officially begun earlier than expected after the $6 million man reported for duty at Wests Tigers training on Tuesday.
Luai wasn’t expected at Concord until December 21 and his early return gives him and new halves partner Lachlan Galvin a chance to work on their combination and hit the ground running ahead of the Tigers’ Round 1 clash against Newcastle in Campbelltown on March 7.
Four-time premiership-winning, former Panther Luai, ripped in for his first session as a Tiger along with fellow ex-Penrith star Sunia Turuva.
The pair who played their final game for Penrith in the grand final in October, arrive at Concord with plenty of expectation as they look to help lift the Tigers off the canvas to avoid a fourth straight wooden spoon.
Still two months away from trials, Tigers fans will need to wait to see their new look squad in action, but for the first time in a long time fans are feeling the excitement in Tigertown.
Jarome Luai training with the Tigers. Picture: Tigers Instagram
Sunia Turuva also joined the pre-season. Picture: Tigers Instagram
Luai, who played for Samoa in the three-Test series against England which concluded in November, is coming to the club not only to wear the No.7 jersey but to call the shots as the chief playmaker after playing second fiddle to Nathan Cleary at Penrith.
The 27-year-old Luai signed a mammoth, five-year contract before the start of the 2024 season, but is only required to stay for two years due to clauses put in place by his management.
Luai and Turuva joined fellow new Tigers Jack Bird, Royce Hunt and Jeral Skelton who have been training since the middle of November.
Still absent was former Sydney Roosters prop Terrell May who is due back next week after playing for Samoa.
The Tigers kick off their Pre-Season Challenge campaign against Canterbury on February 16.
Great to see…even if the story is a little thin 😂
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
NRL pre-season: Jarome Luai era kicks off at Wests Tigers as $6m man arrives ahead of schedule
Jarome Luai has touched down in Tigertown earlier than expected, with the $6m man reporting for his first pre-season session alongside another star recruit. See the latest pre-season news and pictures.
It’s happening.
The Jarome Luai era has officially begun earlier than expected after the $6 million man reported for duty at Wests Tigers training on Tuesday.
Luai wasn’t expected at Concord until December 21 and his early return gives him and new halves partner Lachlan Galvin a chance to work on their combination and hit the ground running ahead of the Tigers’ Round 1 clash against Newcastle in Campbelltown on March 7.
Four-time premiership-winning, former Panther Luai, ripped in for his first session as a Tiger along with fellow ex-Penrith star Sunia Turuva.
The pair who played their final game for Penrith in the grand final in October, arrive at Concord with plenty of expectation as they look to help lift the Tigers off the canvas to avoid a fourth straight wooden spoon.
Still two months away from trials, Tigers fans will need to wait to see their new look squad in action, but for the first time in a long time fans are feeling the excitement in Tigertown.
Jarome Luai training with the Tigers. Picture: Tigers Instagram
Sunia Turuva also joined the pre-season. Picture: Tigers Instagram
Luai, who played for Samoa in the three-Test series against England which concluded in November, is coming to the club not only to wear the No.7 jersey but to call the shots as the chief playmaker after playing second fiddle to Nathan Cleary at Penrith.
The 27-year-old Luai signed a mammoth, five-year contract before the start of the 2024 season, but is only required to stay for two years due to clauses put in place by his management.
Luai and Turuva joined fellow new Tigers Jack Bird, Royce Hunt and Jeral Skelton who have been training since the middle of November.
Still absent was former Sydney Roosters prop Terrell May who is due back next week after playing for Samoa.
The Tigers kick off their Pre-Season Challenge campaign against Canterbury on February 16.
Great to see…even if the story is a little thin 😂
Well here is some news for you Joel, the Luai option is not 3 years of options, just one option that is for the final 3 years of the contract
In memory of Geoff Chisholm (1965-2022)
I reckon we will see T May soon also
Great to see the guys at Concord early
who is going Saturday to members training day ?
Ill be there
spoke to club they are expecting a good turn out
hoping my daughter can get some selfies with some of the players or get something signed see how we go
My many and random thoughts from the Members open training today.......
- All in all a good day and a good thing for the club to do. The training itself was pretty uninspiring but Im sure it was just a 'generic" run through for a demo for fans.
- Having the canteen running as "cash only" was a brain dead exercise. Long queue for sausage sangas to help charity and like myself, the majority left empty handed once they got to the end of the queue to be told cash only.
- Luaia looks good in our colours and was constantly talking to other players during drills. he will be great for us. He was wearing a massive gold chain which is a first for me seeing that on a training paddock.
- Royce Hunt is huge
- Turuva is tiny,
- All of our wingers with the exception of Lobb are short. - Edit - Forgot Skelton, pretty big unit but not agile aerially.
- In the opposed drills attacking the line, Luai & Galvin were defending only with Latu & Sullivan in attack.
- Sullivans kicking was incredibly accurate, bombing to corners. If you descended from Mars today and watched the training run, you would think Sullivan is our first choice half.
- Olam was taking part in opposed drills and looked fine but was training separately to the rest of team for fitness, no doubt still rehabbing his return,
- Interesting to notice that when the squad was running timed trials, and Olam was doing his solo runs, The "Panther Squad" of Api, Luai, Turuva and Naden were doing laps on their own. Can only assume they are newly back and at a different fitness level?
- Doueihi played no part in training drills or fitness, basically acting as ball boy and some passing to the playmakers. No strapping or obvious injury but with it seems to me that there is a significant injury issue with him. Id be surprised if he plays any part in our season.
- Luai played left and Galvin played right.
- In specific drills, Galvin was training with Seyfarth, Toa and some young guy I dont know. I'd tip at this stage that Galvin, Seyfarth & Toa are our right edge.
- Running the time trial (Bronco run?) Galvin was miles ahead of everyone, with Seyfarth ( Johannsen I think) surprisingly second. I have to say (Im not sure if Im looking more closely than usual) but some of our guys just looked unfit in the run. Faataape one of the slowest. Very worried about fitness.
- Luke Laulii very involved on left wing
My many and random thoughts from the Members open training today.......
- All in all a good day and a good thing for the club to do. The training itself was pretty uninspiring but Im sure it was just a 'generic" run through for a demo for fans.
- Having the canteen running as "cash only" was a brain dead exercise. Long queue for sausage sangas to help charity and like myself, the majority left empty handed once they got to the end of the queue to be told cash only.
- Luaia looks good in our colours and was constantly talking to other players during drills. he will be great for us. He was wearing a massive gold chain which is a first for me seeing that on a training paddock.
- Royce Hunt is huge
- Turuva is tiny,
- All of our wingers with the exception of Lobb are short. - Edit - Forgot Skelton, pretty big unit but not agile aerially.
- In the opposed drills attacking the line, Luai & Galvin were defending only with Latu & Sullivan in attack.
- Sullivans kicking was incredibly accurate, bombing to corners. If you descended from Mars today and watched the training run, you would think Sullivan is our first choice half.
- Olam was taking part in opposed drills and looked fine but was training separately to the rest of team for fitness, no doubt still rehabbing his return,
- Interesting to notice that when the squad was running timed trials, and Olam was doing his solo runs, The "Panther Squad" of Api, Luai, Turuva and Naden were doing laps on their own. Can only assume they are newly back and at a different fitness level?
- Doueihi played no part in training drills or fitness, basically acting as ball boy and some passing to the playmakers. No strapping or obvious injury but with it seems to me that there is a significant injury issue with him. Id be surprised if he plays any part in our season.
- Luai played left and Galvin played right.
- In specific drills, Galvin was training with Seyfarth, Toa and some young guy I dont know. I'd tip at this stage that Galvin, Seyfarth & Toa are our right edge.
- Running the time trial (Bronco run?) Galvin was miles ahead of everyone, with Seyfarth ( Johannsen I think) surprisingly second. I have to say (Im not sure if Im looking more closely than usual) but some of our guys just looked unfit in the run. Faataape one of the slowest. Very worried about fitness.
- Luke Laulii very involved on left wing
Some random thoughts from me:
- the reaction to the new players when announced was great, especially Luai
- Terrell is huge
- disappointed that Turuva was used on the wing and not in the centres
- Luai sharp in attack, with lots of energy as was API. Those two need to be joint captains.
- Marc Tannous is one to watch
Great summary/observations guys, appreciate it.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Adding in:
- there were times Luai moved to the right to link with Galvin. Galvin always on right edge though.
- Luke Lualilii filled in at fullback when Bula was resting
- Toa looks to be first choice for right centre
Adding in:
- there were times Luai moved to the right to link with Galvin. Galvin always on right edge though.
- Luke Lualilii filled in at fullback when Bula was resting
- Toa looks to be first choice for right centre
And left centre might be?
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
My many and random thoughts from the Members open training today.......
- All in all a good day and a good thing for the club to do. The training itself was pretty uninspiring but Im sure it was just a 'generic" run through for a demo for fans.
- Having the canteen running as "cash only" was a brain dead exercise. Long queue for sausage sangas to help charity and like myself, the majority left empty handed once they got to the end of the queue to be told cash only.
- Luaia looks good in our colours and was constantly talking to other players during drills. he will be great for us. He was wearing a massive gold chain which is a first for me seeing that on a training paddock.
- Royce Hunt is huge
- Turuva is tiny,
- All of our wingers with the exception of Lobb are short. - Edit - Forgot Skelton, pretty big unit but not agile aerially.
- In the opposed drills attacking the line, Luai & Galvin were defending only with Latu & Sullivan in attack.
- Sullivans kicking was incredibly accurate, bombing to corners. If you descended from Mars today and watched the training run, you would think Sullivan is our first choice half.
- Olam was taking part in opposed drills and looked fine but was training separately to the rest of team for fitness, no doubt still rehabbing his return,
- Interesting to notice that when the squad was running timed trials, and Olam was doing his solo runs, The "Panther Squad" of Api, Luai, Turuva and Naden were doing laps on their own. Can only assume they are newly back and at a different fitness level?
- Doueihi played no part in training drills or fitness, basically acting as ball boy and some passing to the playmakers. No strapping or obvious injury but with it seems to me that there is a significant injury issue with him. Id be surprised if he plays any part in our season.
- Luai played left and Galvin played right.
- In specific drills, Galvin was training with Seyfarth, Toa and some young guy I dont know. I'd tip at this stage that Galvin, Seyfarth & Toa are our right edge.
- Running the time trial (Bronco run?) Galvin was miles ahead of everyone, with Seyfarth ( Johannsen I think) surprisingly second. I have to say (Im not sure if Im looking more closely than usual) but some of our guys just looked unfit in the run. Faataape one of the slowest. Very worried about fitness.
- Luke Laulii very involved on left wing
Some random thoughts from me:
<snip>
- Marc Tannous is one to watch
There was one play i saw, on the left side in attack and the player dropped his runner in a hole with a gorgeous inside ball and the runner went in untouched. Even the crowd reacted to how good a pass it was. Im not sure but I think that was Tannous and if so, just in one pass it was impressive.
Adding in:
- there were times Luai moved to the right to link with Galvin. Galvin always on right edge though.
- Luke Lualilii filled in at fullback when Bula was resting
- Toa looks to be first choice for right centre
Didnt see you Steve, would have said G'day. I saw Yoti.
