This weekend against the Cowboys, Jarome Luai brings up his 150th NRL appearance at Leichhardt Oval.
From humble beginnings, the star half has put together one of the more decorated NRL careers in recent memory.
We relive some of the key moments from our co-captain’s road to 150 NRL games.
FROM MT DRUITT TO THE WORLD
A St Marys Saints junior raised in Mt Druitt, Jarome Luai was a star coming through the Panthers junior reps system and was a part of the club’s 2015 NYC U/20’s team that won the Grand Final.
That 2015 lineup also included the likes of James Fisher-Harris, Dylan Edwards, Moses Leota and Brent Naden.
Luai made his NSW Cup debut in 2016 before transitioning into his first full season at that level in 2017, the same year he represented the Junior Kiwis.
2017 also represented a huge milestone in Luai’s career… before he’d even made his NRL debut.
At the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, Luai was selected as the only player in the Samoan squad to have not yet played NRL.
BREAKING THROUGH
His NRL debut for the Panthers finally came in Round 10, 2018, playing 26 minutes of the second half in a 29-18 win over Newcastle.
His breakout performance though didn’t come until Round 17 against the Warriors, in an incredible performance that put the rugby league world on notice.
Luai scored two tries that night, including a 25 metre solo classic in which he beat five New Zealand defenders on his way to the line.
Luai steps his way through the Warriors
In 2019, Luai made 13 appearances for Penrith as he began to establish himself in the top grade, primarily from the interchange bench, with James Maloney taking up the starting five-eighth spot.
He also continued to represent Samoa at Test level, including a 24-6 win over Papua New Guinea, in which he scored his first try for the island nation.
A STAR ON THE RISE
Luai’s breakout NRL season came in 2020, playing 23 games and notching up 23 try assists as Penrith won their way through to the Grand Final.
Penrith fell short in that decider, but 2021 was an even bigger season in the career of Luai.
Called into the New South Wales squad for the State of Origin series, Luai made his debut in Game One, starring in a 50-6 victory at Townsville before backing it up in Game Two as the Blues sealed the series with a 26-0 win in Brisbane.
A knee injury ruled him out of the final game, but his impact across the opening two matches confirmed his standing as a genuine Origin playmaker.
Back at club level, Luai played 25 matches for Penrith across the season and was central to their run to the Premiership.
Partnering Nathan Cleary in the halves, he helped steer the Panthers to a 14-12 win over South Sydney in the Grand Final, delivering Penrith their first Premiership in 18 years.
In 2022, Luai crossed for seven tries, laid on 13 assists, and once again featured in all three Origin games, though NSW went down 2-1 in the series.
Penrith, however, marched to back-to-back Premierships with a 28-12 Grand Final win over Parramatta, with Luai’s creativity and energy a constant factor.
MAKING HISTORY WITH SAMOA
Following his Premiership triumphs, Luai took his game to the international stage in the delayed 2021 Rugby League World Cup, held in 2022.
He played every match of the tournament, finishing with two tries, nine try assists, three line-break assists, and 24 tackle-breaks as Samoa shocked the rugby league world by becoming the first Tier 2 nation to reach a World Cup Final.
Luai hopes Samoa seen as genuine contenders
Despite falling 30-10 to Australia at Old Trafford, Luai’s influence was immense.
His leadership and attacking spark inspired Samoa to knockout wins over Tonga and England, and he was deservedly named in the Team of the Tournament.
PART OF A DYNASTY
By 2023, Luai was firmly established as one of the NRL’s premier five-eighths and a cornerstone of Penrith’s dynasty.
Despite battling injuries late in the season, including a shoulder scare in Round 26, Luai returned in time to feature in the Grand Final.
Penrith came from behind to defeat Brisbane 26-24 in one of the all-time great deciders at Accor Stadium, securing a historic third consecutive Premiership.
The following year brought further success.
Luai featured in 24 matches across the 2024 season, again proving a vital spark for Penrith’s attack, and was part of the New South Wales side that claimed the State of Origin series 2-1.
In the Game III decider at Suncorp Stadium, Luai made the line-break that broke the game open, passing to Bradman Best to help NSW on their way to the series win.
Luai sets up opening try
October saw Penrith create further history with a fourth straight Premiership, defeating Melbourne in the Grand Final.
JOINING THE JUNGLE
In January 2024, Luai confirmed one of the biggest moves in recent NRL history, signing with Wests Tigers from the start of the 2025 season.
After farewelling Penrith in the best possible way with a fourth straight Premiership, Luai arrived at Concord determined to help drive the Tigers back to the top.
Just weeks into his time at the club, he was named co-captain alongside close friend and premiership-winning teammate Api Koroisau.
Luai made his Tigers debut in Round 1 of the 2025 season against Newcastle and has since embraced his role as a leader both on and off the field.
Already a four-time Premiership winner and State of Origin series victor, his arrival has signalled a new era for Wests Tigers, one built on belief and ambition to succeed.
Having already helped Wests Tigers to a significantly improved season in 2025, Luai is not resting on his laurels and the 28-year-old says that despite being 150 games into his career and having achieved so much success already, “I’m just getting started.”
