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April 13, 2026 \u2014 1:30pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n Save this article for later<\/p>\n Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime.<\/p>\n Got it<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n The news keeps getting better for the high-flying Wests Tigers<\/a>, with star playmaker Jarome Luai declaring himself fit to return for Saturday\u2019s clash against premiers Brisbane in what is tracking to be a sellout at Campbelltown.<\/p>\n The Tigers have won their past three games without Luai, who has been recovering from a knee injury, with Jock Madden deputising in halves alongside Adam Doueihi.<\/p>\n Luai and co-captain Api Koroisau were regarded as quick healers at Penrith, and Luai was never going to sit out any longer than necessary after suffering the injury against South Sydney last month.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I was going to be back next week last week,\u201d Luai said. \u201cBut I\u2019m full training and doing contact and everything. Hopefully, there\u2019s still a spot there for me.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel sweet and ready to go, and I can\u2019t wait to get back out there. It\u2019s been like a mini pre-season for myself. I feel fit and strong. Hopefully, we can pick up where we left off.<\/p>\n \u201cJock Madden stepping up and stepping in, he\u2019s done exactly what the team has needed him to do. He prepares well and comes into every game with a clear mind, clear focus, and nails his role.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone\u2019s spot is not solidified, that\u2019s the culture [we\u2019re building], that\u2019s what you want at the club. It\u2019s very healthy for the club. And that\u2019s me included.\u201d<\/p>\n Luai said he was well aware of the looming April 30 deadline<\/a> to trigger a clause in his contract that allows him to lock in another three years at the club or become a free agent.<\/p>\n \u201cIt comes then, then I\u2019m locked in here,\u201d Luai told this masthead. \u201cIt\u2019s all good, bro. I\u2019m happy with where I am, happy with the team, and we\u2019re building towards better things.\u201d<\/p>\n It remains to be seen whether Madden will retain a spot on the bench with Luai back in the starting line-up. Latu Fainu is the club\u2019s preferred No. 14, and there is no reason Marshall can not carry both players on the extended bench.<\/p>\n Marshall confirmed Luai had asked him again on the weekend if he could have played against the Knights.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019ll be right [for the Broncos], he\u2019ll have a fitness test later in the week,\u201d Marshall said.<\/p>\n As for what happens with Madden, Marshall smiled and said: \u201cYou can find out on Tuesday.\u201d<\/p>\n Such is the mounting excitement in Tiger Town that club officials are banking on a sellout against the injury-ravaged Broncos on Saturday night. The last time Campbelltown sold out was the \u201cSpoon Bowl<\/a>\u201d clash against Parramatta at the end of 2024.<\/p>\n Centre Taylan May remains a chance to return from a shoulder injury he suffered in the club\u2019s opening win over the Cowboys in round two.<\/p>\n One of the happiest players in the sheds after the 42-22 win over the Knights<\/a> was Patrick Herbert, the 29-year-old centre who had waited 1330 days to play another game of NRL.<\/p>\n Marshall saw Herbert playing in a Maori tournament late last year and picked up the phone to his old St George Illawarra teammate. The pair also grew up in the same New Zealand town of Whakat\u0101ne, which has been in the path of Cyclone Vaianu in recent days.<\/p>\n \u201cI was watching this team, I had no idea who they were, and I thought, \u2018Is that Patrick Herbert?\u2019,\u201d Marshall said. \u201cHe was man of the match, so I text him and asked, \u2018What are you up to?\u2019. He said, \u2018Nothing\u2019, so I said, \u2018Why don\u2019t you come on a train and trial?\u2019.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cHe trained really well in the pre-season, impressed all the boys with his work rate and ethic, and we rewarded him with a contract.\u201d<\/p>\n Herbert was due to head to the Super League in 2023, only to be struck down by knee and Achilles injuries. He began working as an electrician, and thought his NRL days were over. He was on an excavator in Wollongong when he took the call from Marshall.<\/p>\n Herbert said he \u201cshed a tear of happiness\u201d after full-time when greeted by his three young sons, True, 6, Kauda, 5, and four-year-old Charnze, on the field. Charnze had never seen his father play league.<\/p>\n \u201cI was losing faith [I would play in the NRL again],\u201d Herbert said. \u201cI backed my ability, but I didn\u2019t have that person in my corner until Benji called me.<\/p>\n \u201cThe four years I had out of the game, it made me more grateful just to be around it again. If I don\u2019t get picked [again], it\u2019s no big deal. Patience is a virtue, which I learned during my time off. I\u2019ll take each day as it comes.\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Jarome](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bbe2477631dfa905ba443756543d1bf317f8081a.jpeg\")
Jarome Luai is set to return for Wests Tigers this weekend.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/dfba9404a23947d3117048a907334ba56a5c1b74.jpeg\")
The Tigers are now equal first on the NRL ladder after their powerhouse win over Newcastle.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Patrick](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/bef8f9282745f95cfec2742dfa9705449aad38c4b6a531e7a44c7b10a53b9d6a.jpeg\")
Patrick Herbert scored a try in what was his first NRL game in 1330 days.NRL<\/p>\n![\"xxxxxxxxxxxxxx\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776062113_876_72a50f1402dfdc840ae89256ef263da4b298373a.jpeg\")
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