Possible eye-gouging charge overshadows Luai’s return for NSW

“I didn’t get a real good look at it,” Laui said.“I actually didn’t even see the replay, so I really can’t comment on anything like that.

“That gets taken care of with the match review, and they’ll analyse it. If nothing happened, nothing will happen.”

Luai, who was omitted by Daley for game one of this series, was recalled by the Blues when incumbent five-eighth Mitchell Moses broke down with a calf injury at training last week.

The Wests Tigers co-captain was fast-tracked into the starting line-up, leapfrogging 18th man Matt Burton, and most agreed it was a logical move.

The 28-year-old has spent almost his entire career playing alongside NSW halfback Nathan Cleary, and often in his shadow, but he remains a master craftsman in his own right, and the perfect foil for his former Penrith teammate.

His record spoke for itself: four grand final triumphs, 10 State of Origin appearances (including two series wins), as well as helping Samoa defy the odds by reaching the 2022 World Cup final.

He’s a big-game player who has shown multiple times that he can rise to the occasion.

Indeed, it must have been a tough call for Daley to omit him for the series opener, given that Luai and Moses were the halves when NSW won last year’s campaign, under Michael Maguire.

Moses did a slick job in tandem with Cleary for the first time in Origin I, but when the Parramatta skipper was ruled out for game two, Luai seemed a natural fit alongside former Panthers teammates Cleary, Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin.

The night didn’t start well for for Luai. He sliced his first kick of the game, at the end of the opening set, into touch on the full, gifting the Maroons precious field position.

A grubber kick in the ninth minute, which bounced opportunely for To’o to pounce and score, was a more accurate indication of Luai’s ability.

“That’s the mentality of Jarome Luai,” Channel Nine’s Andrew Johns said. “He just goes for it.”

But the Blues’ 6-0 lead did not last long.

After conceding a series of penalties and six-agains, NSW allowed the Maroons to pile on the pressure.

In quick succession, Maroons winger Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow had two tries to his name, the first after Queensland created an overlap down Luai’s edge.

Then, in the 30th minute, the Maroons kept the ball alive and it ended in the hands of skipper Cameron Munster, who dived through Luai’s diving tackle to score.

The Maroons weren’t done, and a Kurt Capewell try in the 36th minute left the Blues facing a 26-6 deficit at the break.

Somehow NSW mounted a second-half comeback that took the game right down to the wire, and Luai was heavily involved.

A second To’o try gave the Blues a glimmer of hope, then in the 63rd minute, Luai launched a wicked clearing kick that forced an error from Tabuai-Fidow. To’o scored his hat-trick soon afterwards.

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Then, in the 72nd minute, another Luai grubber created a try for back-rower Angus Crichton, and the Blues were within two points.

Queensland clung on to post a memorable win that will send the series to a decider in Sydney.

Luai would appear to have done enough for another shot at the Maroons.

“I thought he was good,” Daley said. “He brought good energy to the performance. Like all the players, we had some good moments but we can be a lot better.”