Jarome Luai, a 29-year-old rugby player from Wests Tigers, was recently welcomed by his new teammates at Parramatta Eels despite controversy over his mid-contract move to PNG Chiefs. Parramatta captain Junior Paulo praised Luai for being misunderstood and commended his competitive spirit and experience, having won four premierships previously. The article highlights the influx of Samoan players joining Parramatta including Spencer Leniu, Jaydn Su’A, Ronald Volkman, and others ahead of the World Cup where Samoa aims to compete again after reaching the finals in 2022.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Jarome Luai, a 29-year-old rugby league player from Wests Tigers, was warmly received by Samoan fans during a World Cup launch event in Sydney. Despite controversy over his mid-contract move to the PNG Chiefs and his eventual exit, Junior Paulo, captain of both Parramatta Eels and the Samoa national team, welcomed Luai with open arms. Luai will play for Parramatta next season before moving to Port Moresby. The Eels are experiencing a Samoan influx, with players like Spencer Leniu and Jaydn Su’A joining Paulo and Ronald Volkman at their training base in Kellyville. Though Luai's stay is only temporary, Parramatta plans to utilize his talents effectively during his one-year tenure.
Written for “Samoan Player At Parramatta” on 2026-10-11,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Hamming it up in front of more than 5000 devoted Samoa fans at Mt Druitt on Saturday, Jarome Luai was in his element.
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Luai → ham → element
Tossing his cap into the crowd after excitedly joining his international teammates on stage, the 29-year-old was given a rapturous reception.
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old → toss → reception
Wests Tigers supporters probably don’t feel as warmly about him after his much-discussed mid-contract signing with the PNG Chiefs and eventual exit.
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supporters → feel → Chiefs
But Luai’s new club teammate and national captain Junior Paulo has welcomed the five-eighth with open arms to Parramatta, where he will spend next season before heading to Port Moresby.
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he → welcome → Moresby
There is a Samoan infusion coming at the Eels, with Spencer Leniu, Jaydn Su’A and Luai joining seasoned front-rower Paulo and Ronald Volkman at their Kellyville base.
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Leniu → be → base
Luai will only be there for a year, as Jonah Pezet was last season before linking with the Broncos, but Parramatta plan to make the most of it.
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Parramatta → link → it
Speaking at the launch of the World Cup in Sydney, Paulo threw his support behind the four-time grand final winner, who drew headlines for flying to PNG for sponsorship appearances while at the Tigers and for missing the club’s presentation night last month.
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who → speak → night
“As someone who knows him … he’s someone that is misunderstood.
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that → know → him
He’s a competitor, and I think it’s probably been a bit unfair, the treatment that he’s copped over recent weeks,” he said.
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he → ’ → weeks
“He hasn’t done any wrong.
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He → do → wrong
It’s just one of those things where there’s always going to be someone who’s opinionated.
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who → ’ → things
Luckily for ‘Rome’, nothing fazes him.
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nothing → faze → him
“There’s a reason why he’s won four comps, so that’s the experience we want to bring at Parramatta.
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we → ’ → Parramatta
We’re looking forward to it.”
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We → look → it
The former Penrith forward is returning to Sydney’s west after winning a fourth premiership ring with the Roosters last Sunday.
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forward → return → Roosters
Leniu’s devastating cameo off the bench
“When you look at those guys’ resumes, there’s a lot of experience that you’re bringing into the team.
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you → look → team
Those guys know how to win,” said Paulo, who is close to agreeing to an extension with the Eels himself following a contract standoff.
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who → know → standoff
“Spencer has always been a firecracker … when you do it the way he did it [in the grand final] it was momentum changing for the Roosters.
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it → do → Roosters
Luckily for us at Parra, now we get to have him on our side.”
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we → get → side
Before then, the Eels’ Samoa contingent have their eyes on the World Cup.
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contingent → have → Cup
Finalists against Australia at Old Trafford in the 2022 edition of the tournament, the quality of their squad indicates they can again contend for the cup.
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they → indicate → cup
Aside from Luai, Leniu and Paulo, the Samoa squad features superstars such as Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow as well as electric Melbourne fullback Sua Fa’alogo and emerging talents such as Jermaine McEwen and Francis Manuleleua, who excelled in the Knights’ run to the grand final.
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who → feature → final
Samoa begin their campaign with a group-stage game against France at CommBank Stadium on Friday night and are looking to make more history after their landmark appearance in the final four years ago.
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Samoa → begin → final
“We addressed it early when we got into camp that we don’t want to be the team that sort of dwells on those memories, although they were very good ones,” said Paulo.
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Paulo → address → memories
“We want to be able to build and move forward and hit the ground running in this World Cup.
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We → want → Cup
We want to be able to make a statement.”
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We → want → statement
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