Wests Tigers five-eighth Jarome Luai has been officially ruled out of the upcoming match against Manly on Friday due to a boil on his chest, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald. Luai missed the captain’s run on Thursday, prompting a strategic reshuffle within the team. Fortunately, as his absence is due to an infection, it is not expected to threaten his selection for Origin III set for July 9.
Luai recently played in Origin II on June 18 and returned to compete just two days later in the Tigers’ loss to the Raiders. This tight schedule raises concerns about player fatigue, particularly since a Friday match would have marked his third game in just ten days. Consequently, coach Benji Marshall has decided against risking his fitness, planning to shift Api Koroisau into the halves while Tallyn Da Silva will step in as hooker for the match.
Despite his setback, Luai is anticipated to retain his place in Laurie Daley’s Blues team, with selections being announced on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, Da Silva finds himself in discussions with other clubs regarding his future, amid the Tigers’ focus on securing Koroisau’s signing. Additionally, the team faces another challenge, as Jahream Bula is expected to be sidelined for up to a month due to a hamstring injury sustained earlier in the week.