‘I’m ready to rock’: Why this weekend’s rivals Luai and Galvin will click in 2025

Jarome Luai has watched his future halves partner at the Wests Tigers, Lachie Galvin, and likes what he sees.

“He’s a good player, and he looks like he plays with little fear,” Luai told this masthead.

“From what I’ve seen, he goes after the game. He’s not afraid of the occasion. And he’s a young dude playing against men, so kudos to him for attacking the game.”

Galvin and the Tigers head to Bathurst on Saturday afternoon, hoping to spring a second upset against Luai and the Panthers.

Last year’s game, when the Tigers triumphed in driving rain, featured Jahream Bula announcing himself to the world when he stopped Nathan Cleary scoring a try with a brutal tackle. This year, Tigers fans are already wondering how Luai and three-game wonder Galvin combine in the halves next year.

Luai inked a $6 million, five-year deal to join the Tigers next year. Galvin returns from a two-match suspension, but already proven he will be the long-term No. 6. Both players like to run and play on instinct.

Fan favourite: Jarome Luai takes time out with the Bathurst locals.

As Tigers coach Benji Marshall likes to say of Galvin: “We have structures in place that we want to do, but he’s allowed to go outside them, and play what he sees.”

The same rule applies to Luai. Which begs the simple question: can Luai seriously be the controlling halfback and lead the Tigers around the park in 2025?

Marshall’s answer: “I was a No.7 growing up, but I’m a team player, and I’ll do what the team needs me to do.”

The coach did his best to dodge any questions about Luai this week. He is comfortable having two halves who play off the cuff. It worked for New Zealand when Marshall and Shaun Johnson combined in Test football. But next year is next year.

Tigers rising star Lachie Galvin (right) has been backed to perfectly complement Jarome Luai in the halves.

“Why do you need that [controlling half]?” Marshall asked on Friday. “Especially if you’ve got a No.9 [Api Koroisau] who gets you around the park.”

Koroisau is the Tigers skipper and also the man who calls the shots in attack – not the halfback. Brad Fittler, who handed Luai his NSW Origin debut, said Koroisau would make it easier for Luai and Galvin to click.

“They’ll be playing off Api – Api doesn’t have to adjust to them, they’ll have to adjust to Api,” Fittler said. “Api gets the ball first, so everyone adjusts to him. If you have a really good hooker, that will happen. All the timing will be off him.

“Jarome is a left-footer and Lachie is a right-footer, so that works. And with Jarome, the one thing he does, which people underestimate, is he complements what Nathan [Cleary] is doing.

“When he’s had to play halfback, he plays like a halfback. He was halfback for Samoa at the World Cup. I wouldn’t under-estimate what he can do because he doesn’t look like a Jamal Fogarty or Cleary or an Adam Reynolds.

“Jarome knows his footy. All you need to do is know your footy, and when to kick. He does that.”

According to former Tiger Joel Caine, Luai needed to stay posted on the left, and Galvin stationed on the right, because of Luai’s habit of stepping off his left foot twice to come back in field. Caine also liked the fact the pair were excellent support players, which provided another attacking element whenever Koroisau scooted out of dummy-half.

“I love watching Ryan Papenhuyzen and Ezra Man because they are in the picture all the time, and these guys are as well,” Caine said. “Things happen around them, they’re always pushing up, and seem to leave before everyone else.”

Panthers half Jarome Luai feels the love from the locals in Bathurst this week.

As for Luai, he said he had started to pose for his share of photos with Tigers fans. He knows there are a lot of them scattered around town. But his immediate focus is on beating them.

Luai suffered a grade-one MCL sprain against Manly, but the bye week came at the perfect time. Cleary remains another week or two away with a hamstring injury. Luai will not miss the Tigers clash.

“Yes sir, I’m ready to rock, brother,” Luai said. “It was good timing with the week off. I definitely don’t want to miss any footy this year, so a bit of luck bounced my way. It’s all business. I have a job to do for my team. I’m ready to get the two points.”

It has been an emotional week for the Panthers with James Fisher-Harris breaking down in front of the players when informing them he was leaving for the Warriors at the end of the year to be closer with family.

“He’s in the same boat as me now – we want to make this year an unforgettable one,” Luai said. “He was emotional, but it was understandable. This has been his home the past ten years. He’s been missing him and his family. We know where he’s coming from. He knows we’ve got his back.”

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