The shock reason Brad Fittler is backing Jarome Luai after he called fans ‘idiots’ in post

Blues coach Brad Fittler has staunchly defended his under-fire star Jarome Luai after the five-eighth posted what appeared to be an insulting Instagram message calling the team’s fans ‘idiots’ after the huge loss to Queensland on Wednesday night.

The five-eighth wrote ‘Chill, All you idiots have work tomorrow morning’ accompanied by several tears of joy emojis with rapper Tupac Shakur’s song ‘Me Against The World’ playing in the background.

It drew waves of criticism from fans and commentators alike, but Fittler has backed his star to the hilt despite the controversy.

On Thursday, the coach said Luai made the post as a response to people who had sent him death threats on social media, according to Channel Nine reporter Zac Bailey.   

Luai and his teammates have been roasted by fans and experts after losing the series with a shocking 32-6 capitulation to the Maroons on Wednesday night, during which they were never in the game.

However, Blues coach Brad Fittler (pictured after his team’s loss in game two) has defended Luai and said he was responding to people who’d made death threats against him

The Penrith star was sent off for headbutting Reece Walsh late in the contest and blew kisses to the crowd as he walked off. He struggled to make any impact as the Blues turned in one of the state’s worst performances.

Fans slammed Luai for his Instagram post as they lashed out after the one-sided defeat.

‘Shouldn’t be allowed to represent NSW again after that,’ one wrote.

‘Every time I get inclined to go ‘they’re harsh on him’ he does stuff like this,’ added another.

Luai had barely any impact on the game until he was sent off in the dying stages for headbutting Queensland’s Reece Walsh (pictured) 

‘NSW don’t get Origin. That’s all the evidence you need,’ wrote a third.

‘Sums him up … gotta go online and be a d**k at the soonest possible time,’ added another.

Blues diehards also smashed Luai in the comments section of a separate Instagram post as they took him to task for his effort in the loss.

‘Daly Cherry Evans owns you,’ one posted, referring to Queensland’s skipper and halfback.

‘Twenty five minutes in and you’ve already missed all of your 5 tackles,’ added a second fan, while several others told Luai ‘Walsh owns you’ or ‘Walsh is your dad’ in references to the Queensland fullback he exchanged headbutts with. 

Luai called himself a ‘sore loser’ after he was sent off for his fight with Walsh

Queensland fans would agree with that assessment after Luai was seen blowing kisses to them as he left the field

Fox Sports commentator Andrew Voss was left stunned by Luai’s words.

‘I need help with this,’ he tweeted.

‘Surely doing a post on Instagram after defeat and series loss is not on your ‘to do’ list.’

2GB commentator Ray Hadley ripped into Luai and told him to grow up.

‘As Luai was slinging off at workers last night, he was earning $30,000. The workers he was slinging off at have to work for three to six months to earn that. 

The best advice I could give to this young fella who is immensely talented, is ‘pull your head in’.

‘Someone’s going to have to tap him on the shoulder and go ‘Jarome, wake up to yourself. 

Get off social media, don’t taunt people with laughing emojis and you leaning up against a goal post after you’ve been lapped by Queensland. Just shut up, reset and start again.’

Luai described himself as a ‘sore loser’ after the game and said his clash with Walsh would motivate him for the last game of the series after he and the Maroons fullback were charged with grade-two striking.

‘It was just a bit of passion,’ he said.

‘I’m a bit of a sore loser as well so I was just disappointed. I just hate to lose.

‘I don’t get baited. I’m a professional and I know there’s a line always on the field. They won the game, so good on them.’