Wests Tigers forward pack leader Alex Twal has revealed the Jarome Luai situation was a distraction in 2026, but refused to put the club's results squarely on the shoulders of the half.
Luai, who alongside Apisai Koroisau, appeared to revolutionise the culture of the struggling joint-venture for the start of 2026, signed with the PNG Chiefs for 2028 early in the campaign, with player options into the future allowing him to negotiate his contract without the blessing of the Tigers.
After signing, he took up a player option for 2027 with the Tigers, although that has now been scrapped, with the half to join the Parramatta Eels in 2027 for a one-year stopover.
The former NSW Origin half struggled for form during the second half of the year, and that accusation travelled to the rest of his teammates, with Benji Marshall's side slumping down the ladder to finish in the bottom half again despite their bright start.
Speaking on SEN Radio, Twal was asked point blank whether Luai signing with PNG was a distraction, and while he admitted it was, he said there were a range of factors.
"Yeah look, throughout the season we often push things to the side as players and just focus on winning games and that sort of thing, and sort of keep the harmony," Twal said on SEN's The Run Home with Joel and Fletch.
"I think the Jarome situation was one thing that I guess was a bit of a distraction.
"But in saying that, there were a few other things you know. A lot of our senior players went down with injuries and missed part of the year, and then there was just form.
"As a team, we just dropped our form. Confidence took a hit through the middle period and we just never came out of it.
"Towards the back-end, I thought the boys started playing better footy, but it wasn't up to the standards we set at the start of the year."
The Tigers head into next season with a major point to prove, and a coach likely in the gun if results don't turn a corner in a hurry.
Latu Fainu and Javon Andrews seem the most likely options to replace Luai in the halves and partner Adam Doueihi who caused his own distraction late in the season by walking out on the club.
The Tigers have also signed Jake Averillo, although it would appear more likely he will line up in the centres.
The club is also in the process of changing its coaching staff, with Shane Flanagan confirming earlier this week that he would be interested in the vacant assistant coaching role following the departure of John Morris.
