Jarome Luai under fire over 'embarrassing' scenes after comment about teammate
Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva didn't exactly back up their words with actions as the Tigers went down to Parramatta 38-22 on Monday. And the decision to dump Lachie Galvin to reserve grade backfired spectacularly, with Luai and Adam Doueihi struggling in the halves.
Luai and Turuva both made pointed posts on social media last week in the wake of Galvin's decision to leave the Tigers when his contract expires. It's led to Galvin's management sending the Tigers a legal letter alleging he's been bullied and not given a safe working environment.
Luai made a big statement with his words last week that no player is bigger than the club, backing coach Benji Marshall amid claims Galvin doesn't see his game developing under him. And many were expecting an even bigger statement on the field against the Eels - especially given Luai switched from halfback to five-eighth to take Galvin's No.6 jersey.
And while Luai had two try-assists, he couldn't ice the game at the death and watched on as Mitchell Moses got the upper hand in their battle for the NSW five-eighth role. Luai missed a key one-on-one tackle on Kelma Tuilagi in the 41st minute that allowed the Eels back-rower to score. It simply wasn't good enough for a leader of the club on a $6 million contract.
Tuilagi pumps the legs! 💪#NRLTigersEels pic.twitter.com/fewchF5HCu
— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2025
And some of Turuva's defensive efforts were even worse. He let Josh Addo-Carr brush past him with ease for the first try of the game, and then let his opposite number run around him to put Isaiah Iongi over for another four-pointer in the second half.
Edge to edge for the Foxx! 🦊#NRLTigersEels pic.twitter.com/jQWqtr3TL7
— NRL (@NRL) April 21, 2025
Turuva then left his team with 12 players when he was sin-binned for an absolute brain-fade in the 53rd minute, attacking Ryley Smith and flinging him to the ground after the play had finished. Considering what Luai and Turuva had said about Galvin, Tigers fans would have been expecting better on Monday.
Cooper Cronk also highlighted in commentary how Moses rallied his troops after Luca Moretti was also binned after the Turuva incident, while the Tigers players were scattered and Luai wasn't saying anything. Moses' actions showed the kind of leadership that was lacking for the Tigers on Monday.
The Tigers had a two-player advantage at one stage in the second half, after Iongi joined Moretti in the bin. But their failure to do enough in attack to regain the lead highlighted Galvin's absence.
The teenager has been much more potent than Luai with ball in hand this year, and while Doueihi had some flashes of brilliance at halfback he wasn't as good as Galvin has been. Galvin was forced to play in NSW Cup with the Western Suburbs Magpies just hours before the Tigers and Eels clash, and the decision to axe him came back to bite Marshall.
It remains to be seen whether Marshall will bite the bullet and bring Galvin back into the first-grade side. But the fact his management has taken legal action against the club suggests that might not be a realistic option. The Tigers have vowed not to release Galvin from his contract early, but it now appears an inevitability.
Luai and Turuva with missed tackles for Parra tries #NRLTigersEels
— Viewz (@viewzrmine) April 21, 2025
Bit embarrassing the performance by Luai & Turuva after their posts this week
— The Fall Guy (@gcampbell_88) April 21, 2025
Turuva and Luai were too busy with their Insta posts they forgot how to play NRL this afternoon
— Sam Curro (@samcurr95262813) April 21, 2025
I called it massive drop in form maybe big dollar luai and turuva should keep there mouths shut.
— Weapon X (@WeaponXoXoX) April 21, 2025
Maybe should be joined by luai and turuva after their showings
— Nick Tedeschi (@Tedeschi8181) April 21, 2025

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