Wests Tigers great calls out Nathan Cleary detail in massive prediction about Jarome Luai

Club legend Pat Richards has claimed the Wests Tigers will see the best from Jarome Luai next season having watched him thrive at halfback in the absence of Nathan Cleary. Luai has faced question marks during his career regarding his ability to carry a team, with critics pointing to his success in the halves as a result of playing alongside arguably the NRL's best player in Cleary.

Although Luai silenced his doubters this year having taken over the No.7 jersey for the premiership winners and producing a number of standout performances in Cleary's absence. Cleary missed nine rounds of NRL footy in the middle of the 2024 season due to another hamstring injury.

He also missed the remaining three games of the season with a shoulder injury heading into the NRL finals. And Luai showed fans he has the ability to command a team around the park in a good sign for Tigers coach Benji Marshall.

Cleary admitted he was impressed with Luai's performances in his absence throughout the series and their roles had changed slightly upon his return. Luai showed Tigers coach Marshall he could be their new halfback with exciting talent Lachlan Galvin proving his star power in the No.6 jersey.

And Tigers great Richards said he was excited for the Tigers' 2025 season having watched Luai offer a glimpse into what it would be like playing with the talented Galvin. Richards - a premiership winner in 2005 - is still involved with the Tigers helping out the Under-18s team.

"Everyone is excited for what Jarome Luai can bring," Richards said on SEN radio on Wednesday. "He showed that over the last four seasons winning the comp there. He showed it last year being a leader with Nathan being out, really controlling that team. That's what he will be doing for us."

Nathan Cleary praises Jarome Luai for halfback switch

During his time injured, Cleary watched Luai develop for the Panthers in the first-receiver role. And the Panthers halfback admitted the team adapted to this change to hand Luai more control. "I think (the combination) does change," Cleary said ahead of NRL finals.

"The way he excelled while I was out, being in that first-receiver role. I want to try and complement that. That was the one main difference while I was out, finding areas I could complement his game and help him do things he was doing really well."

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Jarome Luai nominated for Golden Boot award

Luai has been nominated for the golden boot award for international player of the year, despite two losses with Samoa against England. The Tigers-bound playmaker put in two solid performances having recorded three try assists across the two internationals.

He will return to Tigers pre-season training soon as he looks to develop his combination with exciting 19-year-old Galvin. The young five-eighth didn't have his best game for the PM XIII at the end of the season, but was arguably the best young talent to emerge from the 2024 campaign.

Luai surprised many fans having made the decision to play in England for Samoa after a long premiership campaign for Penrith. This meant he couldn't link up with coach Marshall in pre-season training as soon as they would have liked. But the new Tigers signing admitted he wanted to represent his country on the tour and was honoured to get the captaincy.

"I'd sort of been contemplating it a bit. It's been a long year, my body's a bit sore and I've got to start a new club. I didn't want to set that back any further," he said. "But I'd be doing myself a disservice and my family name a disservice if I didn't go over there and lace up the boots for my country.

"(To'o and Crichton being unavailable) was more reason why I needed to, I needed to hold it down for the boys. They've got some things going on in the off-season, and rightfully so. I'll go over there and hold it down."