
Tigers expect Luai to overcome infection for Origin
Jarome Luai is likely to be available for the State of Origin decider, with Wests Tigers expecting the NSW star to be out of hospital and fit again within days.
Luai was desperately missed by the Tigers in their 28-10 loss to Manly on Friday night, after being ruled out on the morning of the game.
The 28-year-old skipped training on Thursday with an infection from a boil, before needing to be hospitalised upon coming down with fevers.
But the Tigers believe that had the game been later in the weekend, Luai would have been able to play and he should be fine to play for the Blues in the July 9 decider.
"We'll know a bit more in the next 24 hours. I think he'll be out of hospital today or tomorrow," Marshall said on Friday night
"I am pretty sure he will be okay for NSW if they pick him.
"He got an infection yesterday and didn't come to training. He said he was going to be alright to play.
"And then he went to hospital and had fevers and the infection got a lot worse.
"If it was another 24 or 48 hours Jarome would have been right to play. But he wasn't good for today."
The Tigers' loss marked their sixth in a row, with coach Benji Marshall conceding his team had taken a step backwards after several close defeats.
But while the Tigers missed Luai in attack, his availability for the Blues at Accor Stadium in a week and a half is crucial.
Mitch Moses is still out with a calf injury after being hurt in camp for game two, prompting Luai's return to the side.
NSW have already had Matt Burton as back-up half for Origin II, but No.7 Nathan Cleary is also entering the decider with questions around his groin.
Winger Brian To'o also has a heavy cloud over his fitness, after hurting his knee in Penrith's win over Canterbury on Thursday night.
To'o is expected to have scans on his left knee on Saturday, after leaving CommBank Stadium with ice on it on Thursday night.
Jarome Luai is likely to be available for the State of Origin decider, with Wests Tigers expecting the NSW star to be out of hospital and fit again within days.
Luai was desperately missed by the Tigers in their 28-10 loss to Manly on Friday night, after being ruled out on the morning of the game.
The 28-year-old skipped training on Thursday with an infection from a boil, before needing to be hospitalised upon coming down with fevers.
But the Tigers believe that had the game been later in the weekend, Luai would have been able to play and he should be fine to play for the Blues in the July 9 decider.
"We'll know a bit more in the next 24 hours. I think he'll be out of hospital today or tomorrow," Marshall said on Friday night
"I am pretty sure he will be okay for NSW if they pick him.
"He got an infection yesterday and didn't come to training. He said he was going to be alright to play.
"And then he went to hospital and had fevers and the infection got a lot worse.
"If it was another 24 or 48 hours Jarome would have been right to play. But he wasn't good for today."
The Tigers' loss marked their sixth in a row, with coach Benji Marshall conceding his team had taken a step backwards after several close defeats.
But while the Tigers missed Luai in attack, his availability for the Blues at Accor Stadium in a week and a half is crucial.
Mitch Moses is still out with a calf injury after being hurt in camp for game two, prompting Luai's return to the side.
NSW have already had Matt Burton as back-up half for Origin II, but No.7 Nathan Cleary is also entering the decider with questions around his groin.
Winger Brian To'o also has a heavy cloud over his fitness, after hurting his knee in Penrith's win over Canterbury on Thursday night.
To'o is expected to have scans on his left knee on Saturday, after leaving CommBank Stadium with ice on it on Thursday night.
Jarome Luai is likely to be available for the State of Origin decider, with Wests Tigers expecting the NSW star to be out of hospital and fit again within days.
Luai was desperately missed by the Tigers in their 28-10 loss to Manly on Friday night, after being ruled out on the morning of the game.
The 28-year-old skipped training on Thursday with an infection from a boil, before needing to be hospitalised upon coming down with fevers.
But the Tigers believe that had the game been later in the weekend, Luai would have been able to play and he should be fine to play for the Blues in the July 9 decider.
"We'll know a bit more in the next 24 hours. I think he'll be out of hospital today or tomorrow," Marshall said on Friday night
"I am pretty sure he will be okay for NSW if they pick him.
"He got an infection yesterday and didn't come to training. He said he was going to be alright to play.
"And then he went to hospital and had fevers and the infection got a lot worse.
"If it was another 24 or 48 hours Jarome would have been right to play. But he wasn't good for today."
The Tigers' loss marked their sixth in a row, with coach Benji Marshall conceding his team had taken a step backwards after several close defeats.
But while the Tigers missed Luai in attack, his availability for the Blues at Accor Stadium in a week and a half is crucial.
Mitch Moses is still out with a calf injury after being hurt in camp for game two, prompting Luai's return to the side.
NSW have already had Matt Burton as back-up half for Origin II, but No.7 Nathan Cleary is also entering the decider with questions around his groin.
Winger Brian To'o also has a heavy cloud over his fitness, after hurting his knee in Penrith's win over Canterbury on Thursday night.
To'o is expected to have scans on his left knee on Saturday, after leaving CommBank Stadium with ice on it on Thursday night.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Daily Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
NSW Blues State of Origin Game 3 team: Two bolters added to squad
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Laurie Daley has made no changes to his team for the State of Origin decider, backing in his existing squad for Game 3 in Sydney on July 9. Queensland levelled the series with a 26-24 win in Game 2, with the lopsided penalty count the main talking point from the game as the Maroons bounced back. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. NSW's forward pack came under scrutiny in Perth, with Max King's position at starting prop under question following the injury to Mitch Barnett that left a hole in the team. Stefano Utoikamanu's spot in the team was also seen as under threat, but Daley has stuck to his guns, ignoring calls to bring Rabbitohs gun Keaon Koloamatangi or Tigers recruit Terrell May in to do a job at prop. In this weekend's NRL games, Utoikamanu had 33min 60metres 24pcm 1 offload 20 tackles, Koloamatangi had 60min 108m 34pcm 32 tackles, and May had 68min 121m 56pcm 50 tackles, 0 missed. Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said on SEN after Game 2: 'Stefano Utoikamanu is gone. I'm rubbing him out for Game 3. Max King is not a starting Origin front rower. So there's a starting front rower spot up for grabs for NSW. 'I don't think you can go with the same starting 13 again. You can't go with Max King if you're only giving him that many minutes.' Daley has reportedly added Sharks second rower Teig Wilton and Parramatta forward Jack Williams to the extended squad for the 10-day camp before the decider at Sydney's Accor Stadium. Gold Coast's Brian Kelly has also been added to the squad. NSW coach Laurie Daley is sticking to his guns. (Photo by) That trio aren't expected to be included in the final 20-man squad but will come into camp as experience and to run opposition at NSW training. On top of those two additions, Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa has been brought into NSW's squad as insurance for Nathan Cleary, who is managing a thigh/groin injury. Katoa, 21, has been in blistering form for the Dolphins and has been given the nod over Broncos veteran Adam Reynolds as the back-up halfback. Cronulla's Teig Wilton has been added to the extended squad. (Photo by) Isaiya Katoa is the back-up halfback for Nathan Cleary. (Photo by Janelle) Cleary starred in Penrith's win over the Bulldogs on Thursday and is expected to be fit to play in the Origin decider. Elsewhere, winger Brian To'o was cleared by the NRL judiciary of a high shot in Penrith's win, and he was also given the green light after undergoing scans for a knee injury. Jarome Luai has been cleared after being hospitalised with an infection, while superstar prop Payne Haas has been declared fit after battling a back injury. Canterbury winger Jacob Kiraz has been named as 18th man for NSW. Penrith forward Lindsay Smith is 19th man and Newcastle Knights centre Bradman Best has been named as 20th man. Queensland will name their team for Game 3 on Monday. Keaon Koloamatangi has been overlooked again. (Photo by) Stefano Utoikamanu has been named in the team for Game 3. Picture: Justin Lloyd. Predicted NSW Blues team for Game 3 1. Dylan Edwards 2. Brian To'o 3. Stephen Crichton 4. Latrell Mitchell 5. Zac Lomax 6. Jarome Luai 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Max King 9. Reece Robson 10. Payne Haas 11. Liam Martin 12. Angus Crichton 13. Isaah Yeo (c) 14. Connor Watson 15. Spencer Leniu 16. Hudson Young 17. Stefano Utoikamanu 18th man: Jacob Kiraz 19: Linday Smith 20: Bradman Best Originally published as NSW Blues State of Origin Game 3 team: Bolters added to squad, Daley ignores calls for change

Sydney Morning Herald
10 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Why one week makes all the difference to history's most successful halves combo
Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai will treasure an extra week training together in NSW Origin camp ahead of next Wednesday's series decider – and use it to ensure they don't fall into old Penrith habits. Luai's call-up to replace the injured Mitchell Moses for Origin II reunited the most successful halves pairing in modern rugby league history for the Blues, but Cleary's pre-game groin injury hampered their dynamic as Queensland held on for a famous win. Luai has also been dealing with a medical problem, spending three nights in hospital last week as he recovered from an infection, but he expects to take part in NSW's four scheduled training sessions before Origin III. Former Blues coach Brad Fittler noted in commentary for Channel Nine that Luai's 'frantic play' had impacted NSW's structure in a first half riddled with errors and penalties as the Blues slumped to a 26-6 half-time deficit. Luai was one of the Blues' best as he recovered from multiple first-half mistakes to set up two tries in their comeback. The Tigers skipper revealed he had become mindful of not trying to replicate the Panthers game plan when playing for NSW. 'It's definitely different now I'm not at Penrith, and we do lean on that connection of playing together for so long,' Luai said on Monday. 'But you have to strip away the titles and all those games we've played together to focus on what we're here to do, beat Queensland. We've had a lot of success together, but it doesn't really mean anything now come game time and in the past I've probably tried to rely on the club combination too much. 'But you can't do that; you're playing against the best players in the world, so you have to make the most of every single day preparing in this camp. You can't leave anything to chance.'

News.com.au
10 hours ago
- News.com.au
Brad Fittler pulls out of race to be next Kangaroos coach
Brad Fittler has pulled out of the race to be the next coach of the Australian Kangaroos. The NRL great had been seen as the favourite to be appointed the Kangaroos coach after Mal Meninga stepped down from the role to become the new coach of the Perth Bears. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Fittler won two premiership during his career and is one of rugby league's greatest representative players with 31 caps for NSW and 38 appearances for the Kangaroos. He coached the Prime Minister's XIII against PNG last year. But on Monday the 43-year-old said he wouldn't be putting his hand up to be the next Kangaroos coach, opting to focus on his media and commentary roles with Channel 9. 'There was an opportunity there, I'm very grateful for them thinking about me, but I think just in the situation I'm in at the moment, my commitments to Channel 9, I work for the NRL, I'm really enjoying that,' Fittler told 2GB. 'When the role came about and I just started to think about it and start planning that this is maybe for someone else at the moment. 'It was an incredible opportunity, but I also didn't think I could do it justice. That's why I didn't want to commit to it. 'But what an incredible opportunity for someone. I think it's someone with a bit of time. They need to get hotels, grounds, training fields, equipment, everything - it's a big job ahead, but what an awesome experience it is going to be, three Tests over in England.' Fittler said his previous experience of juggling his media duties while being NSW Blues coach played a part in his decision. 'I won't say I won't ever do it again in the future. I always found even when I was commentating while I coached the Origin team, it makes it a bit uncomfortable when you're talking about players and then you have to pick players,' he said. 'I just thought that got a bit muddy at stages and wore on my conscience at times.' Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith and former Broncos coach Kevin Walters are now the leading candidates to be appointed Kangaroos coach. The Kangaroos won the last Rugby League World Cup under Meninga and they will have a new coach for the postseason tour of England for the Rugby League Ashes, which is being held for the first time since 2003.