Jarome Luai captured in savage act towards QLD fans as NSW star exorcises Origin demons

NSW five-eighth Jarome Luai helped deliver the Blues a famous series win at Suncorp Stadium and he didn't miss his chance to let Maroons fans know about it. Michael Maguire's side's 14-4 victory over their fierce rivals on Wednesday ensured the State of Origin shield's return south as they pulled off a historic upset on enemy turf.

And Luai was instrumental in the Game 3 win with a brilliant individual effort with just 15 minutes to go turning the match on its head. Down 4-2, Luai picked up a loose offload by Connor Watson and skipped through a tackle to put Bradman Best away for the game's first try, breaking the shackles.

Mitchell Moses then crossed shortly after to set up an unassailable ten-point lead for the Blues with just minutes to go. And not one to ever miss a chance to bask in the glory, Luai made sure to let Maroons fans know that the Origin shield was heading back to NSW.

The Blues five-eighth was seen spending the final exchanges of Game 3 waving goodbye to the departing Maroons fans. "If anyone enjoys getting under the skin of Queenslanders it's Jarome," one X user wrote as he shared a video of the incident. But Luai was far from done rubbing it in, later posting a picture of himself outside the Caxton - an iconic pub in Brisbane and home to many Maroons fans - captioned 'Goodnight'.

Jarome Luai completes State of Origin redemption

Luai, who has long been the scapegoat following NSW defeats in recent years, was outstanding for the Blues throughout the entire 2024 series and the win on Wednesday night is sure to help heal the scars Suncorp Stadium had left before. Without his Panthers teammate Nathan Cleary beside him, Luai dug in throughout in an incredibly tough and gritty match dominated by the defence before he turned the game on its head with 15 minutes to go with a scintillating run.

It was a full circle moment for Luai who last year was given his marching orders at Suncorp for head-butting Reece Walsh in the final moments of a series-deciding Game 2 defeat. Following that match, Luai copped social media abuse and death threats and thought that was the end of his Blues career as he was dropped for Game 3.

But Blues coach Michael Maguire recalled Luai for the 2024 series, in what has ended up being an inspired selection choice as he has gone on to play an instrumental role in NSW winning the series. And in a show of the strides he has made since the last time he entered the Suncorp Stadium Origin arena, when he was involved in a first-half scuffle with Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans he didn't go on with it.

And Michael Maguire was full of praise for his five-eighth after the historic Game 3 victory. "Someone like Romy ... everyone has their different perceptions of him," Maguire said post-game. "He's an outstanding human being.

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"Great family man and the way he played, broke the game open and at the back there. The respect they have for what they're doing, and the people, they're building something now."

with AAP