Joey Manu sits down for dinner at a seafood restaurant in Port Moresby.
Sitting opposite the former NRL star is Jarome Luai. The four-time premiership-winner is picking at a lobster.
“We can be eating these every day if we want, my bro,” Luai laughs from across the table.
Luai is in a typically good mood.
Instead of playing a cameo season under heavy scrutiny and an ever-present spotlight at the Eels, he’s spent the day with the PNG Chiefs social media team.
He’s snapped and shot reels, stories and videos that the Chiefs can push out to their 40,000 followers.
Luai shows that trademark grin when calling for Chiefs fans to become paid-up members.
He then takes fans behind the scenes of the Chiefs’ resort accommodation and shares footage of him selling the lifestyle as a Chief.
The day before, instead of being accused of earning $700,000 to help resurrect the Eels while also working on training days off for his third-party sponsors, Luai played 18 holes at Royal Port Moresby Golf Club with executives from his third-party sponsor Pepsi.
“Yes, sir,” Luai says after he birdies the Par 4 16th.
The week before, the Wests Tigers captain went fishing with one of the most talented teenagers in rugby league.
Luai also spoke at length with the concerned parents of the rising star.
He’s been at every recruitment meeting with GM of football Michael Chammas and head of recruitment Liam Ayoub.
If there’s a player for the Chiefs to scout, Luai is there every step of the way.
If a phone call needs to be made, Luai is on the end of the line.
He’s even had lunch with the PNG Prime Minister James Marape and it’s on every news platform possible.
“Bro, it was an honour to share a meal with him,’’ Luai tells the news crews.
The 29-year-old Luai is also training every day.
He’s had any clean-up surgery required after finishing his two-year stint at the Tigers.
There’s no need for press conferences after losses here and, more importantly, no threat of a season-ending injury by playing in the NRL in 2027 that would cause massive issues for the Chiefs, when he is due to play for rugby league’s most extravagant franchise expedition in 2028.
There is an alternative life for Luai and it isn’t playing with the Eels.
He should’ve been with the Chiefs in 2027 as their head of recruitment, chief marketing officer, sponsorship manager, who would be wrapped-up in cotton wool ahead of their massive season launch in 2028.
Here, he is safe from the scrutiny that now follows his every move as a departing Tigers and soon-to-be Eel for the next 18 months.
Is he focused on winning games for the Eels next season, or promoting the Chiefs?
After all, that’s one of the major reasons why Wests Tigers management pulled the pin on his deal for 2027.
Wests Tigers were rightfully alarmed that Luai was locked into working with third-party sponsors linked to his mega-deal with the Chiefs.
Are we suddenly led to believe that things will be different at Parramatta?
Rugby league is a game built on tribalism. Fans need to know their players are deeply passionate and invested in their club and also their community.
Is Luai for the Eels, or is he for the Chiefs in 2027?
Again, the Tigers didn’t think he would be all-in for them in 2027.
The Chiefs should’ve pounced on Luai. Had him on the payroll immediately.
It was a no-brainer, bro.