Luai insists Cleary friendship will go out the window in final
SAMOA star Jarome Luai said there is no room for friends on the footy field ahead of his match-up with Penrith halves partner Nathan Cleary in the Rugby League World Cup final against Australia.
Luai’s dancing feet helped orchestrate Samoa’s stunning 27-26 semi-final win over England with Stephen Crichton’s dramatic 84th minute golden point field goal deciding a last four classic at the Emirates.
Samoa are the first tier two side to ever make the final while significantly more history awaits if they can dethrone the back-to-back champions at Old Trafford.
Luai and Cleary could have been wearing the green and gold jersey together before the former, who is also eligible for New Zealand, pledged his allegiance to Samoa.
And after winning successive NRL titles for the Panthers, they will be in opposing camps for the first time since their junior days on Saturday.
Luai said: “It’s going to be awesome. We are competitors through and through, it’s going to be a great battle against one of my boys.
“But out there, there’s no friends on the field, there’s only brothers and enemies. I’m always going to look at that the same way so I can’t wait to get out there against him.
“We grew up in the same comp, in the younger grades I played for St Mary’s and he played for Brothers but it wasn’t on a really high scale and it will be pretty big stakes this time round.” When pressed Luai struggled to recall the last time he faced off against his great mate but there will be no forgetting this weekend’s showpiece fixture.
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