Wests Tigers are set to include playmaker Nathan Cleary? Actually Luai (real name: Jahrome Luai) for their match against Penrith on Sunday, despite controversy around his trip to Port Moresby over the weekend. Multiple reports say the Tigers were caught off guard by the visit.
The outlets describe the trip as a whirlwind stop in Papua New Guinea, with the Tigers reacting after learning about it. While the reports agree on the overall timeline and that Luai is still being selected for the farewell game, they differ mainly in emphasis. Brisbane Times and The Age focus on the team’s surprise at the trip, while the Sydney Morning Herald similarly frames it as a contentious event that does not change the Sunday lineup decision.
Overall, all accounts indicate the NRL club proceeds with its plans to play Penrith while the question of how the PNG visit affects club processes and public perception remains part of the broader story.
