In the aftermath of the Walsh incident, Luai was hung out to dry, axed from the squad for Game III. Many believed that his time as Blues five-eighth had come
and gone but with an injury crisis upturning Michael Maguire’s maiden Blues squad – the No.6 earned a recall for
next Wednesday’s series opener in Sydney. And while Walsh says he’s relishing the chance to once again lock
horns with the three-time premiership winner – having come off second best in last year’s grand final defeat with the
Broncos – Luai says he isn’t going to engage with the Queensland fullback.
“He (Walsh) wears his heart on his sleeve and he’s a competitor because that’s
what it takes to get into this Origin arena in the first place,” Luai said. “You’ve got to have that chip on your shoulder to get
here and then it’s about who is able to connect together better and play as a team.
“I think it (the hair pull) was the first game, but that’s Origin, man. I’m there to
do a job, I don’t want to find myself in the bin or anything like that. I wear this
jersey with pride and I want to do everything I can to get the win, I’m
playing for my family and everyone in NSW so that’s where my passion comes from.”
Jarome Luai has a point to prove this Origin series
Luai has never been short of self-confidence but feels like he has a point to prove after losing his cool last year.
Through an injury-ravaged opening 12 rounds of the NRL, Blues halves options Cody Walker, Mitchell Moses, Adam
Reynolds and Nathan Cleary all picked up serious injuries and were ruled out for at least the series opener. That has
opened the door for Luai to not only play again for the Blues again but potentially secure the spot moving forward.
