Jarome Luai was absent from the Wests Tigers end-of-season awards night. His tenure with the club ended after the event. Reports portray the situation as a contentious episode. During the event, Wests Tigers players Twal and McGregor received major awards.

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