Jarome Luai was absent from the Wests Tigers end-of-season awards night. His tenure with the club came to a close after the event. Reports portray the situation as a disputed period. During the event, Wests Tigers players Twal and McGregor won major awards.

Luai has landed a tax-exempt sponsorship deal with PNG-based company Trukai. The recent deal is valued at $2.2 million per season. Luai left the club after skipping the awards night. The sponsorship offers him a new arrangement while his Tigers exit draws criticism.