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

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