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Jarome Luai slams 'idiot' critics in ugly Origin post-match act

The extraordinary post on social media has left rugby league fans gobsmacked.

andrew reid
·4-min read
Pictured here is NSW Blues star Jarome Luai and Reece Walsh in an Origin scuffle.
NSW Blues star Jarome Luai hit out at critics after a wild Origin defeat that saw him and Reece Walsh sent off in the dying stages of Game II. Pic: Getty/AAP

Jarome Luai was already viewed by many Queensland fans as 'public enemy No.1' but the Blues playmaker has stirred up even more controversy after a shocking reaction to his side's sobering loss on Wednesday night. Luai's Blues were completely outclassed by the Maroons in Origin Game II at Suncorp Stadium as the home side retained the shield courtesy of a 32-6 thumping.

Luai was at the centre of a number of controversies during the game after sparking uproar by standing over Daly Cherry-Evans after a tackle, in scenes reminiscent of his infamous incident with a knocked out Selwyn Cobbo in 2021. The Blues five-eighth was also sent off alongside Reece Walsh in the dying stages when the rivals head-butted each other in the midst of a wild scuffle.

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However, the biggest talking point around Luai came hours after the match when he took to social media to hit out at the "idiot" critics who had seemingly flooded the comments sections of his Instagram account. “Chill. All you idiots have work tomorrow morning,” Luai posted at around 4am alongside an image of himself and a number of crying with laughter emojis.

Seen here, Jarome Luai and his controversial Instagram post.
Jarome Luai's Instagram post has not gone down well with league fans. Pic: Getty/Instagram

It's not entirely clear which fans Luai is directing his anger at, but quite frankly, it doesn't really matter. The fact the 26-year-old felt the need to send such a post after his side was so comprehensively beaten, left the league world in a state of disbelief.

“I am looking at an Instagram post and I am gobsmacked,” NRL commentator Andrew Voss said on SEN. “What the hell is that. This is not a player representing the state.

“Jarome Luai, how is anyone meant to take that? Jarome Luai what the hell have you done. How could an Instagram post be a motivation after losing a game and the series is lost?”

Voss' sentiment was widely shared across the league world, with fans describing it as a terrible look from Luai. Many even suggested that it could be the final nail in his Origin career for NSW.

Jarome Luai describes himself as 'sore loser'

Luai described himself as a "sore loser" in the wake of his late-game stoush with Walsh, that resulted in both men being sent off for the final seconds of the game. Neither will miss any more game time, nor will Josh Addo-Carr - whose punch started the fracas - with the Blues winger to pay 10 per cent of his fee for his grade-one striking charge.

"It was just a bit of passion," Luai said of the incident. "I'm a bit of a sore loser as well so I was just disappointed. I just hate to lose.

"I don't get baited. I'm a professional and I know there's a line always on the field. They won the game, so good on them."

The melee came in the wake of Luai accusing Walsh of pulling his hair in the first game of the series, and after a captain's challenge earlier in Origin II led the bunker to penalise Walsh for a high shot on the NSW man. The chance to get one over Walsh is likely be on Luai's mind if he is selected for Game III.

with AAP

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