Jarome Luai KICKS Eels rival Isaiah Papali’i during NRL grand final

The Panthers have been all over Parramatta in a one-sided half of football at Accor Stadium, but Penrith were fortunate to have 13 players on the pitch after an ugly act by Jarome Luai.

Midway through the reigning premier’s onslaught in the NRL grand final, the standoff unnecessarily kicked out at Eels rival Isaiah Papali’i while the second row was on the ground after being tackled by a Panthers teammate. 

Eagle-eyed viewers at home spotted the angry kick out, but neither referee Ashley Klein, nor the Bunker – supported by video technology – viewed the incident and Luai went unpunished. 

Regardless, Eels will have little to complain about after being completely outfought by the Panthers during a nightmare opening 40 minutes for Brad Arthur’s side.

Phil Gould said while Parra were ‘brave’ in the first half, they were ‘completely outclassed’ by their rivals, who put on the ‘perfect’ half of football. 

‘It was probably one of the more impressive and professional 40 minutes of big game football you could possibly imagine,’ he said on Nine’s coverage. 

The Panthers star was spotted kicking out at Isaiah Papali’i during the first half in Sydney

‘They got on the front foot early, their kicking game was really good, their ball control was outstanding and then when the time came they could move the ball out wide and prise open this Parramatta defence. 

‘They kept Parramatta at their end of the field the whole half, gave them very little opportunity to get out of it. 

‘They kept the pressure on and the kicking game from Cleary and Luai has been outstanding, and when they’ve had their chances they’ve taken them and it’s just been a relentless, relentless assault on this Parramatta side, who I must say haver been brave but totally outclassed by this Panthers team. 

‘It’s just been the perfect 40 minutes of football.’