NRL legend Billy Slater believes there could be a “swap” between new-look Wests Tigers halves pairing Jarome Luai and Lachlan Galvin this season.
In the biggest move of the off-season, Luai moved to Concord on a multi-year deal, with the club investing plenty of money in Penrith’s four-time premiership winner – said to be $6m over the length of the deal.
The 28-year-old starred alongside Nathan Cleary during his time at the Panthers, but will have a whole new challenge ahead of him with the wooden spooners.
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Jarome Luai during the Tigers’ pre-season. Getty
Luai will wear the No.7 jumper and link up with young gun Galvin, who was a rare shining light for the joint venture in 2024, to form a quality halves combination.
But according to Slater, there could be more than meets the eye between them.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they actually swap positions and Galvin actually played that halfback role,” he said on Nine’s Billy Slater Podcast.
“He’s a real on-baller, he likes to be involved, while Luai has probably played his best football just sitting off a little bit, like when he plays with Nathan Cleary.
“They mightn’t swap the numbers, but they might swap roles of who is more dominant.”
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Slater also argued the Tigers had “nearly the best spine in the comp” but stopped short of echoing Shane Richardson‘s comments last year that it held top billing.
Lachlan Galvin is one of the NRL’s best young players. Getty
As for their hopes of featuring in September for the first time in 15 years, Slater believes the Tigers can make it happen in Benji Marshall‘s second full season at the helm.
“I absolutely think they can,” he said.
“It’s up to them and obviously everyone has got the optimistic view of playing finals at this time of year … I think they really can play finals.”
Marshall’s men will kick off their campaign against the Knights on March 8.
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2025-02-25 13:34:35
