Jarome Luai says ‘idiots’ message was response to death threats over State of Origin headbutt

NSW’s Jarome Luai received death threats on social media over his headbutting clash with Queensland’s Reece Walsh in the final minutes of State of Origin Game Two on Wednesday.

Luai hit out at his critics, calling them “idiots” after the Blues five-eighth was sent from the field of play in the closing moments of his team’s defeat.

Luai and Maroons’ fullback Walsh clashed as full-time approached with a Maroons victory already assured at Suncorp Stadium and the 2023 series secured. Both received red cards for headbutting one another.

At full-time in Brisbane, Luai described himself as a “sore loser”, and the Penrith player took to social media later in the night with a message seemingly intended for those who had taken exception to his performance in Brisbane.

“Chill,” Luai wrote. “All you idiots have work tomorrow morning.” He added: “We go again.”

Rugby league commentator Andrew Voss said he was “gobsmacked” by the player’s response. “What the hell is that? This is not a player representing the state,” Voss said on SEN. “Jarome Luai, how is anyone meant to take that? Jarome Luai, what the hell have you done?”

But Luai has since told coach Brad Fittler his comments were in response to those who had sent him death threats after the incident.

After Walsh’s Queensland retained the shield with their 32-6 win, Luai said the chance to add another chapter to the pair’s burgeoning Origin rivalry would help motivate him in the third match of the series next month.

Luai lost his cool when Maroons fullback Walsh interfered with James Tedesco as the NSW No 1 chased a kick to the line in the final minute of the game. That led Walsh to bite back at Luai and the pair headbutted one another after becoming entangled in a fracas.

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