Jarome Luai skipped the Wests Tigers end-of-season awards night. His time with the club came to an end after the event. Reports portray the situation as a controversial chapter. At the ceremony, Wests Tigers players Twal and McGregor received major awards.

Luai has signed a tax-exempt sponsorship deal with PNG-based company Trukai. The recent deal is reported at $2.2 million per season. Luai exited the team after skipping the awards night. The sponsorship provides him with a new setup while his Tigers exit draws criticism.