Jarome Luai’s Father Sparks Panic Among Tigers Fans With Social Media Post
The father of Wests Tigers recruit Jarome Luai has unintentionally stirred concern among the club’s supporters following a cryptic social media post.
Martin Luai raised eyebrows over the weekend after posting “Get out clause activated” alongside eye and face-palm emojis, shortly after the Tigers suffered a crushing 64-0 defeat to the Melbourne Storm. The message alluded to Jarome Luai’s five-year, $6 million contract with the club — a deal that includes player options for the final three seasons, effectively allowing him to exit after just two years.
While fans feared the post signaled Luai’s discontent or potential early exit, rugby league figure Phil Gould stepped in to calm the storm. Speaking on 100% Footy, Gould described Martin Luai as a “good man” and insisted he never intended for the remark to be taken seriously — or even seen by the public.
Martin later clarified that the post was simply light-hearted banter among friends and was never meant to be circulated widely. He told Channel 9 that the message was screenshotted and shared without his knowledge, prompting him to delete it once he was made aware the media intended to report on it.
Despite the online reaction, Gould, who knows the Luai family well from his time overseeing player development at Penrith, stressed that Jarome remains committed to his move to the Tigers. He dismissed any notion that the playmaker was having second thoughts.
Jarome Luai also addressed the situation last December when the details of his contract’s player options first emerged. He reassured fans that his decision to join the Tigers was made with a long-term vision in mind, and that he’s “locked in” to help the club succeed.
“That was negotiated by my management team,” Luai said at the time. “If you’ve got a good agent, they act in your best interest. I’m committed to the Tigers and excited about what we can build. I’m all in. That’s the kind of man I’ve been.”
Although Luai technically has the flexibility to explore other options from November 1 this year, both he and his representatives have repeatedly reiterated his loyalty to the Tigers — giving the club and its fans hope for a brighter future.
