'Time for change': Jarome Luai joins push for fairer Pacific player treatment

Jarome Luai, one of the biggest names in the rugby league world, has made an impassioned plea for structural changes to the sport to make it fairer for Pasifika players and recognise what they bring to the game.

The Toa Samoa leader and serial NRL premiership winner has added his voice alongside his Samoan teammate Spencer Leniu, calling for an equal playing field following the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.

"Reflecting on the campaign, it's obvious that it's time for change," Luai wrote in an Instagram post on Tuesday night.

"The numbers don't lie. Together with Rugby League Samoa and the help of @nrl and @rlplayers I believe we can start to find what we are searching for," the five-eighth said.

"This isn't about money or equal pay, it's about being respected and being Entitled to what the pacific is generating (sic)."

His comments follow Leniu also making a case via a social media post, stating that "our little nations carried the [RLWC]" but those running the show were only using "our people to sell games".

Leniu said the Samoa versus Tonga match at the RLWC was the "most hyped-up and anticipated game of the tournament".

He said the organisers made it a triple-header because they knew that "our people turn up in numbers, fill the stadiums and create an atmosphere filled with pride and passion".

"We are driven to grow our game and to make this space a lot bigger and better for the next generation but I also speak for empowerment over Polynesian Excellence around the world, Luai, 29, wrote.

""I've been dragged through mud by white modern day media for years, labelled 'overrated, overpaid, outspoken'," the marquee signing for PNG Chiefs, the NRL's 19th team, said.

"Know your worth. Do not conform to the idea of what they think we should be doing or who you should be.

He added: "Shine your light, spread love and go with God."

While the International Rugby League (IRL) said it did not handle player compensation, the Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) said there was an opportunity to partner with the NRL to bring more funds into small nations.

The IRL told RNZ Pacific ahead of the RLWC that all players would be paid AU$850 per week as a standard match fee, but individual federations could pay their players more depending on their own financial ability.

"I think there's a tremendous opportunity for us to partner with the NRL on a whole range of different areas to try and again grow exposure, grow revenue, and bring more funds into these nations that are obviously contributing so much," RLPA chief executive Clint Newton said.

Pacific teams have featured prominently in the current Rugby League World Cup and captured the imagination of the sport's followers.

Newton said the RLPA sees great value in growing the international game, but it was unable to secure a revenue-sharing agreement with the NRL.

"We'd certainly like to work with the nations and with the NRL and with the IRL about the use of nations IP, the use of player IP, and how we can collaborate to grow the game, because this is only just the beginning," he said.