From today's SMH:
If South Sydney had their way, Jarome Luai would be wearing Cody Walker's No.6 jersey.
The past two times the Penrith playmaker was off contract, the Rabbitohs couldn't phone Luai's agent quick enough. Whether it was former Souths supremo Shane Richardson or football manager Mark Ellison, the red and green carpet was rolled out each time for Luai at Redfern. "Richo and Mark Ellison, probably over a period of two windows, enquired about Jarome," said his agent, Darryl Mather.
"Shane was doing work for the New Zealand Rugby League and Jarome was the captain of the Junior Kiwis at a game in Canberra. He really took Richo's eye on and off the field.
"Mark Ellison has loved Jarome's footy and backed it up with a few calls: ‘Can we get Luai?'
"Richo and Mark probably rang me about five or six times combined. Richo was really hot to trot."
Penrith, however, knew Luai was a keeper. When Mather raised Souths' interest with former Panthers supremo Phil Gould, the message was clear: Don't even entertain the thought of going elsewhere, we have big plans for him.
And so it has come to pass. Luai has turned into every bit the player the Panthers and Rabbitohs predicted he would become. The livewire five-eighth has brought out the best in not only himself but great mate and halves partner Nathan Cleary, who is widely tipped to take out the Dally M Medal.
Things have also worked out for Walker. A late bloomer who only made his NRL debut at the age of 26, Walker has been making up for lost time. His sublime form during the past six weeks has
shot him back into State of Origin calculations.
It appears Walker's past and future are inextricably linked to the Penrith halves. Walker made his Blues debut alongside Cleary and will face him and Luai on the weekend with a view to reuniting with the Penrith halfback at Origin level.
Luai cheekily suggested this week that it was time for the younger Panthers halves to show up their more season counterparts.
"We'll have to wait and see," Walker said with a grin when told about the comments. "I'm not into personal battles, it's just about us going out there and doing the job. If we focus on one individual, the other side of the field will hurt you.
"We understand that they've got strike all over the park. Jarome Luai is in career-best form. He's had a fantastic year and you've also got Stephen Crichton on that left edge, on the other side [Liam] Martin and Brent Naden and Nathan Cleary.
"If you focus on one particular area of their attack or their game, you miss out on stopping the other guys in their team."
Walker is also acutely aware what Cleary is capable of.
"He's obviously got a great kicking game, he's got great energy," Walker said. "He's a great defender, he's been a great leader of their side this year. He's playing on the ball more than he has in previous years, that's a big indicator to us where the ball is going to go.
"Off the field, he's a great guy. I roomed with him in Origin. I only played one game with him – I don't really know his game inside out, but he's a great player. He's had a fantastic year."
So too has Luai, who never saw himself playing anywhere but at the foot of the mountains.
"The boy just loves the Penrith badge and I knew he didn't want to be anywhere else," Mather said.
"Jarome was very patient when James Maloney was there, he took on everything in the right way.
"Not once did he ever say he wanted to look elsewhere ever. He was very patient.
"He understood the process he had to go through to get to where he is now."
