Jarome Luai has attracted criticism for spending time in Papua New Guinea on a promotional basis despite still being contracted to the Wests Tigers. (Getty Images: Ian Hitchcock)
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall says he has no issue with Jarome Luai spending his downtime in Papua New Guinea.
Luai changed his flight out of Townsville last week after the Tigers' loss to the Cowboys, travelling to PNG unbeknownst to his coach.
Luai will captain the Tigers in his final game for the club on Sunday against the Panthers. He will join the Eels in 2027 on a one-year deal before PNG's inaugural NRL season in 2028.
Benji Marshall insists Jarome Luai is entitled to spend his downtime as he pleases, dismissing "irrelevant" criticism of the Wests Tigers star's recent trip to PNG.
When Luai asked to change his flight out of Townsville following last week's loss to North Queensland, Marshall was unaware his star player would be travelling to his future home country to attend a golf tournament.
The trip came only days after Pepsi unveiled Luai as a brand ambassador ahead of his arrival at the Chiefs for their first NRL season in 2028.
Luai's trip to Port Moresby, and the first of what is likely to be many promotional opportunities with PNG brands, come while he remains on a seven-figure salary with the Tigers.
The five-eighth will also join Parramatta on a one-year deal before his first pre-season with the Chiefs, which begins in more than a year.
Marshall described media concerns over the optics of Luai's enthusiastic PNG links as "irrelevant to me".
"He paid to change his flights [from Townsville] and not come back with us, which happens quite often with players," Marshall said.
"What he chooses to do in his time off, that's up to him. In one week's time, he's not going to be here anymore and we're not going to have to worry about any of those things."
Jarome Luai's decision to sign with Papua New Guinea is a showcase of the economic power behind the Chiefs and marks the start of the greatest rugby league gold rush since Super League.
Marshall said, in time, Luai's move to the Chiefs could help transform him from villain to hero in the public's eye.
"He always gets painted as the villain for some reason," Marshall said.
