Why Jarome Luai’s PNG parade was so painful for Tigers fans

April 27, 2026 — 7:14pm

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Images of Jarome Luai wearing a black bucket hat and grey shirt, smiling and waving to rugby league fans in Papua New Guinea over the weekend, have the potential to derail much of the good work being done at the Wests Tigers right now.

The Tigers have quickly become the feelgood story of the NRL this year. After a hat-trick of wooden spoons from 2022, the rebuild under coach Benji Marshall is gathering steam and the Tigers now sit third on the ladder after a strong start to the season. Marshall has his team playing with just the right blend of passion, flair, resilience and mongrel. It has been great to watch.

So it was galling for Tigers fans to see Luai being mobbed by fans in Port Moresby during a not-so-subtle meet-and-greet with PNG Chiefs officials.

The Chiefs need a big scalp ahead of their 2028 entry to the competition, and Luai fits the bill. The deal is a big chance of being confirmed in the next 48 hours.

It would have been one thing for Chiefs officials to have........

© The Age