They're close friends who've played side by side for years, but Penrith Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai has revealed that a strong personal bond doesn't mean he's exempt from copping a spray from halfback Nathan Cleary in the heat of battle.
The spray in question, which came after a Luai error helped Newcastle score a late try in the final 10 minutes of a contest the Panthers were leading 42-0, also highlighted the impeccable standards and pursuit of excellence driving the Panthers to their third consecutive grand final appearance.
โI remember there was a loose ball and I went to dive on it. I physically felt I couldn't get to it but (Cleary) reckons I could,โ Luai recalled to the Daily Telegraph.
โI could see him in the corner of my eye, then I heard him.
โHe was just yelling my name out โ I mean really yelling โ but I kept walking away.
โBut I knew he was calling me, and I know that he knew that I knewโฆ There were a couple of swear words in there, we laugh about it now.โ
Having played together for many years beyond their combination at NRL level, Luai says the close relationship ensures he doesn't take these moments too personally.
โHe's probably the only one I can cop a spray off,โ Luai admitted.
โIf I do something wrong, he's the first guy to spray me. It's good, we need that in our team. We keep each other accountable, that's what a good team does.โ
The contrasting duo have grown better with time, but while Luai is known as a bit of a wildcard foil to his calm and composed halfback, the fact he's finished second in the league for penalties shows he still occasionally needs to be brought back down to earth.
โI feel like because I've played with him for so long I feel comfortable spraying him or telling him when he's done something wrong,โ Cleary told the Telegraph.
โHe takes it well. He got that bad one in Newcastle but it doesn't happen too often.โ
Despite Cleary's occasional reminders, Luai is already very conscious of the things he needs to improve ahead of Sunday's historic grand final.
โ(The penalties) are something I have to keep a lid on because it hurts the team,โ the five-eighth said.
โI don't look for that stuff because it puts our team in a bad position.
