Luai set Origin spark in Townsville. Now he wants to turn that into Blues inferno at Suncorp

Jarome Luai well and truly shone in his first State of Origin outing ⁠— alongside club halves partner Nathan Cleary, the Panthers star guided New South Wales to their biggest every victory over their Queenslander arch-rivals.

Now, on Sunday night, he wants to finish the job.

There were originally question marks around Fittler’s choice to call up Jarome Luai for the Blues this year. It did make sense, on paper, considering the 24-year-old’s mouth-watering club form alongside Cleary and long-time friend Brian To’o.

Many fear, however, that the “Origin beast” would swallow Luai ⁠— and To’o, for that matter ⁠— and spit them back out up north in Townsville.

How wrong they could have been.

Luai’s blood was up that night. In part, it was helped by his long-standing hatred against the powerhouse state north of the border. Then, ‘Bizza’ ⁠— To’o, for those playing at home ⁠— fired him into a frenzy ahead of kick-off.

The young Panthers winger was screaming at him as they ran out onto the field: “This is war!” We’re made for this.. We’re ready for this!”

And then, Queensland taunted Luai.

He crumpled early in the battle, sparking Maroon cries that he was “soft”.

That he should stay down, give up.

Luai laughed: “They were giving me a bit of lip.

“They were barking, “you’re soft,” get up, stay down, give up… the same sort of crap. It was a bit of a memory blank moment, because when I went down a few of their players had words to say to me… all it did was wake me up, a bit of an ‘okay, let’s go’ moment.”

Luai’s anger translated into one of the greatest modern State of Origin moments footy fans will likely see in a long time, after Felise Kaufusi hit the deck.

Jarome is towering over him, giving as good as he had gotten minutes before, absolutely heaping it into the Queensland forward. Kaufusi looks rattled, or disappointed, while Luai looks for all the world a man ready, as To’o said it, “for war.”

 

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Luai wants to take that energy to Suncorp too.

“I probably put a target on myself, to be honest, but I was probably targeted in the first game anyway,” he said.

“Nothing is going to change for me in terms of mentality, but it probably will fire them up. That’s what I want ⁠— that challenge.

“I love that stuff. I’m used to it [players getting into me]. I knew Origin was going to be a different beast and they would try to get into my head. It’s one of the toughest games throughout the year. I wanted my brothers to know I’ve got their backs. I’ll do the same in Game 2 as well, and see if Queensland can give it back.

“It wasn’t even after I did something good,” he added with a laugh. “[Paulo] had a big run and had a good carry and left a few of the boys on the ground. I was so pumped. There wasn’t much in it … but it’s probably putting a target on myself to be honest.

“It’s at Suncorp as well, so it’s going to be a different beast.”

And Bizza, who first sparked that fire in Luai’s belly before the first ball had even been kicked, backed up Jarome’s claims that he would be carrying that fire into Suncorp Stadium on Sunday evening to “continue the battle.”

“[Queensland] are obviously going to send it back at Jezza, and be angry about that [photo] and try and fire us up,” To’o said.

“That only makes us more keen for the next game,” the ever-rising Panthers superstar continued. “Me and my boy will be ready to take it on. He loves it, it’s the reason why he plays. It just motivates him to be the player he is today.”

• Read More: “Embarrassed” Maroons will make game of it at Suncorp

Jarome Luai has retained his No. 6 jumper in Freddy Fittler’s relatively unchanged Blues side for Game 2. Angus Crichton is the major ‘in’ to replace Jake Trbojevic.

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