Calls for Jarome Luai switch as Wests Tigers teammate ruled out for 4-6 weeks
Vision has emerged of the moment Bula pulled up lame while chasing a kick on the final play of the Tigers' 16-12 loss to Canberra last Friday. The fullback went streaming through on a grubber from Jarome Luai, and toed the ball ahead as the Tigers looked for a miracle try to win the game.
But Bula hurt his hamstring while reaching down to grab the ball, and could be seen limping around afterwards. The 23-year-old is set to miss the next 4-6 weeks - a cruel blow considering it occurred on the final play of the game.
The injury will spark a reshuffle in the Tigers' backline, with Heath Mason likely to switch from five-eighth to fullback. That would see Fainu handed the starting No.6 role after coming off the bench in the last two games.
Here is the video of Bula injuring his hamstring https://t.co/u0gldJZrAA pic.twitter.com/CfUpZzKOwf
— NRLCentral (@centralNRL) June 23, 2025
The Tigers looked much better in attack when Fainu was brought on to replace Mason at five-eighth in the second half against the Raiders. They won the second half 12-0, but couldn't reel in the Raiders at the death.
Fainu is viewed as the Tigers' long-term No.6 and part of the reason the club was willing to part ways with Lachie Galvin. But if legendary halfback Andrew Johns had his way, Fainu would have the No.7 on his back and Luai would revert to No.6.
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Luai won four premierships with the Panthers while playing five-eighth, but moved to the Tigers on a $6 million deal for the extra responsibility of playing halfback. But according to Johns, Benji Marshall would be better off with Luai at 6 and Fainu 7.
'I think he is a 7," Johns said on Channel 9 on Sunday about Fainu. "I'd have him in the 7. He looks like he's an on-ball halfback which frees up Jarome."
Luai played five-eighth for NSW in State of Origin 2, and looked much more likely than he has all year while playing halfback for the Tigers. Tellingly, he looked much better on Friday night when Fainu was on the field in the second half.
Tigers fans have been calling for Fainu to start for the last few weeks, but Marshall has played it safe with the 20-year-old as he returns from injury. "Latu Fainu is not far off from getting a real good opportunity in the halves and is probably our long-term option there," Marshall said before the Raiders game. "He just needs a little more match fitness coming back from his hamstring injury for him to play 80 minutes."
Mason was recently upgraded to the Tigers' top-30 squad and signed to a new deal. "He's a really good kid who comes from a good family and there are no dramas at all with the way that he does his work," Marshall said. "He trains really hard and wants to learn."
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