NRL icon Billy Slater suggests that the Wests Tigers’ new halves duo, Jarome Luai and Lachlan Galvin, might switch roles during their upcoming season. Luai, who joined the Tigers on a lucrative multi-year contract reportedly worth $6 million, is taking a step away from his successful partnership with Nathan Cleary at Penrith to a team that finished at the bottom last season.
As the freshly appointed No. 7 for the Tigers, Luai will collaborate with promising player Galvin, who shone as one of the few bright spots for the club in 2024. Slater speculates that rather than merely adopting designated positions, the pair may interchange roles on the field. “It wouldn’t surprise me if Galvin played the halfback role,” Slater noted on his podcast, highlighting Galvin’s active playing style while suggesting Luai excels when he plays more off the ball.
While Slater acknowledged the quality of the Tigers’ squad, he refrained from endorsing previous claims that they have the league’s best spine. Nevertheless, he described them as boasting one of the strongest. As for the Tigers’ aim to reach the finals for the first time in 15 years, Slater is optimistic, believing this is achievable in Benji Marshall’s second year as head coach. “I absolutely think they can,” he stated, recognising the hopeful sentiment surrounding the team’s prospects as the season approaches.
The Tigers will begin their season against the Knights on March 8, with fans eager to see how the new halves combination will perform.