Jarome Luai leaves Penrith Panthers a man transformed after grand final against Melbourne Storm [Video]

“I often wonder what would have been if he didn’t trust the process, and left to play NRL before he was physically ready. That patience is a credit to his character and his family.”

Ciraldo tried hard to get Luai to the Bulldogs for next year, and take it as fact there was an assurance he would sign there.

Instead, Luai decided he wanted to run a team on his own and show the world what he was capable of by stepping out of Cleary’s shadow, so he signed with Wests Tigers instead. It might be why we are seeing a different Luai – a player former Blues coach Michael Maguire made part of his Origin leadership group this year.

“When I sat down with him at his home before we picked Origin, I could see the steel in him that I knew would make him a leader for the Blues,” Maguire said.

“He showed that throughout the camp, and then …