Yeo wary of Luai threat as Kangaroos look to preserve 72-year record

November 3, 2026 — 3:28pm

For years, Isaah Yeo looked out for Jarome Luai. Now, he has his work cut out containing the playmaker’s influence as the Kangaroos attempt to maintain a 72-year World Cup record.

Not since 1954, when Great Britain edged out France 16-12 at the Parc des Princes, have Australia failed to qualify for the World Cup final.

That proud record goes on the line on Sunday night in Sydney, when Yeo and the Kangaroos face a Luai-led Samoan side which outscored Tonga four tries to three last weekend but ultimately went down 20-18 in a nail-biting clash in Parramatta.

If anyone knows about the threat of Luai, it is Yeo. The pair won four NRL titles together at Penrith between 2021-2024, and the Panthers haven’t made a grand final since Luai joined the Tigers in 2025.

“I much prefer playing with him than against him,” Yeo said. “He’s outstanding, and I just feel like he goes to another level in that arena. You can see he’s become a real leader over the years in the NRL, [and] once he goes into that space, he grows another leg.

“I thought he was outstanding for them the other night, and obviously in the beaten side, but I thought he was really good, physical as well. He put on a good shot at one point and let them know. We’ll certainly have our work cut out for us there.”

Laui was at the heart of everything Samoa did well against Tonga, with his inch-perfect kicking game causing the Tongans headaches all night.

Kangaroos skipper Yeo believes Luai has thrived with the added responsibility of being the senior playmaker with both club and country, having played second fiddle to Nathan Cleary at the Panthers.

“That’s why he chose to leave Penrith: he wanted to be that player,” Yeo said. “We loved having him at Penrith, obviously, but I think that was just what he thought was his next sort of level and where he could grow.

“Look, he’s done a wonderful job there. As much as that stuff gets written throughout the media, I thought he’s been really good over the Tigers, and you see him in arenas like this, and he’s outstanding.

“I love watching the journey. I love being a part of it as well. But I think he’s been outstanding since he left as well.”

Samoa’s side has a heavy Penrith flavour to it, with former Panthers Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu plus current ones Izack Tago and Brian To’o lining up alongside Luai.

“We’ve got our old assistant attacking coach [Ben Gardiner] as their head coach as well,” Yeo pointed out. “What I do know is I know they bring a lot to that side, and we’re going to have to do a really good job on them.

“That’s probably a big part of why Samoa’s been so good over these last few years and really built. I feel like there’s a real good Penrith flavour in there and that they’re all contributing.”

Kangaroos coach Kevin Walters has again backed the Queensland spine of Harry Grant, Tom Deaden, Cam Munster and Reece Walsh to get the job done against Samoa.

There was no place for Latrell Mitchell in the side, with Walters opting for Bradman Best and Kotoni Staggs in the centres.

While Cam Murray was seen training away from the main group on Tuesday morning at Kogarah, Yeo played down the possibility of the South Sydney second-rower missing the Test.

“He was a little bit tight there on our captain’s run last week, so [we] pulled him out,” Yeo said. “That’s more just precautionary, our big day is in two days’ time, so it’s all just making sure he’s right for that session there, but he should be fine.”

Munster, too, finished the training session fractionally earlier than his teammates, but the Australian skipper once again dismissed any possibility of the livewire playmaker missing the match.

“He was talking rubbish out there the whole time, so no, he’s fine,” he said.

Meanwhile, Yeo reiterated his desire to stay at the Panthers despite the delay in getting his three-year extension with the club across the line.

“I’ve always said I’d like to finish in Penrith or see that out,” he said. “I think we’re pretty close in that regard.

“I’ve left it all a bit on the back burner, obviously, since the prelim [loss] and I’m trying to be fully focused here. But that’s all sort of working in the background.”

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