‘Arrogance of NSW’: Image infuriates Maroons legends

Questions over whether Jerome Luai was ready for Origin were quickly answered on Wednesday night when he stood up in his rep debut.

Luai was a revelation in the No. 6 jersey as NSW claimed a record 50-6 win.

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And to top it off, Luai proved he was treating it like just another game with images of Luai having the time of his life.

Even when he was in trouble after kneeing Maroons forward Joe Ofahengaue in the back after he took James Tedesco out for an attempt at a high ball, Luai was cheeky, ignoring a call out from the referee before calling him “bro”.

“Jarome … Jarome … Jarome … Jarome”, Gerard Sutton yelled before warning: “That will be on you”.

“Hey Jarome, get out here,” he later demanded.

“Did you see his (Ofahengaue) eyes, it was all on him (Tedesco) bro,” Luai said.

But while that could have easily been enough for Queensland to dwell on and turn him into public enemy No. 1, it’s not the only ammo he gave Maroons.

Luai was wearing his heart on his sleeve throughout the game and a picture of him yelling while standing over Maroons back-rower Felise Kaufusi has reportedly put some noses out of joint.

The full picture in question.Source:Supplied

Speaking on Triple M, The Australian’s Brent Read said the picture, shared by the NRL has sparked tempers North of the border.

“There’s an image doing the rounds at the moment, a few of the former Queensland players caught onto it, it was on social media yesterday, the NRL put it up,” Read told Triple M radio on Saturday.

“It’s an image of Jarome Luai standing over Felise Kaufusi, basically screaming. I don’t know if he’s berating him.

“It’s done the rounds with a few of the old boys and they are not happy about it, suggesting this is the arrogance of NSW.”

“Light the fuse,” Mark Geyer said.

Jerome Luai was right at home in Origin.Source:Getty Images

While it might seem preposterous that the Maroons need any more encouragement to bounce back from the 44-point shellacking on Wednesday than proving it was no more than a bad game, it seems like both NSW are trying not to give them anything and Queensland are clutching at anything inspire a Queensland comeback.

Last year, it was the “worst Queensland team in history”

With the likes of Kalyn Ponga and Josh Papalii set to return for Origin II in Brisbane, Read said that Ben Hunt in for AJ Brimson as the utility and even someone like Will Chambers returning is an option.

Despite only being back for a few weeks, 13-Origin veteran Chambers is experienced but is “aggressive and gets in your face”.

“You’ve got Jerome Luai standing over Felise Kaufusi just giving it to him basically, Will Chambers gives you a bit of that fire, that brimstone, providing Will would be willing to come back, it wouldn’t be a bad shout,” Read said.

With game II set for Sunday June 27, you can be sure that the Maroons will do anything and everything they can to turn around the result.

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