Rumours of Luai-Benji feud intensify after curious Instagram acts
NRL legend Billy Slater says “something has changed” at Concord as speculation of a rift between Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall and marquee player Jarome Luai intensifies.The Tigers on Saturday confirmed Luai will leave the club at the end of this season despite having a contract for 2027 worth $1.2 million.AdvertisementThe bombshell dropped barely two months after Luai announced he would forfeit his 2028 deal with the team to join the NRL’s newest franchise, the Papua New Guinea Chiefs, for their inaugural season.The Tigers were sitting third on the NRL ladder at the time of that announcement, and they have capitulated badly since, winning just two games in 10 weeks to tumble down to 13th place.When Luai signed with the Chiefs, he and Marshall both fronted media to spruik a mutual understanding and respect, with the coach claiming, “There’s nothing but gratitude from me for what he’s done for our club so far, and what he’s going to do over the next 18 months”.But their relationship is now under the microscope, with Nine’s Danny Weidler telling Triple M radio over the weekend, “I don’t think Benji and Jarome are as close as they were”.When Triple M posted that quote to social media, Luai’s father Martin liked and commented an “OK” symbol, suggesting Weidler’s mail is correct.“The line from the Tigers has changed, because when Jarome signed with PNG the line was ‘well we have Jarome for the next 18 months, he’s a Tiger’... and now it’s changed,” Slater said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.“Something has changed behind the scenes, that we haven’t seen, for the Tigers to think differently.”AdvertisementLuai has championed a “team first” mentality since joining the Tigers from Penrith two years ago, even criticising young playmaker Lachlan Galvin publicly last year for wanting to leave the club.But reports suggest club teammates and staff have come to question Luai’s commitment since his decision to quit his Tigers deal.News Corp reports a social media post from Luai recently angered club officials and players, who believed he was taking a thinly veiled swipe at Marshall and the coaching staff over team selections.NRL great Brad Fittler believes the decision to cut Luai loose at the end of this season was inevitable once the team began to flounder.AdvertisementAdvertisement“So round eight Jarome went up to PNG and signed with the Chiefs. Prior to round eight the Tigers were sitting third, and had lost two games,” Fittler told Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.“So in that next 10 weeks or so they’ve won two games. So to say it hasn’t had an impact, it’s had a massive impact. I know there’s been some injuries to key players.“The thing about Jarome is, and he’s very good at it, is he can bring people together, he’s got a lot of charisma.Advertisement“But then when you go and sign somewhere else, all of a sudden that message you’ve been selling, it loses its power.“I think some of the players are now starting to doubt that ‘team first’ thing.“If I’m Benji I’m saying well, I’ve lost control here, I need to get back control - so I fully understand what the Tigers are doing.”Luai is yet to confirm where he will play football in 2027, although the Eels have been floated as a leading contender for his signature.AdvertisementAdvertisementThey are reportedly poised to offer $700,000 to Luai - with the Tigers paying the remainder of his $1.2m salary next year - for just one season of his services.Parramatta legend Nathan Hindmarsh is against that idea.“You look at Parramatta at the moment. Will they be premiership contenders next year with Jarome Luai?” Hindmarsh said on Triple M over the weekend.Advertisement“At the moment, they are improving slowly - they’ve got some great young talent coming through.“I don’t think Jarome will make the difference... (Luai and Mitchell Moses) is a great halves combination. I’m just saying surely you’re not going to be spending $700,000 on a halfback that is going to be there for one year. A gap year.“I would not be wasting $700,000 or more on a half that is going to be there for a year if you’re not going to be at the grand final or thereabouts. I think the money can be spent elsewhere on long-term (options).”
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