Mitch Moses has backed Jarome Luai to be Wests Tigers' long-awaited saviour, declaring his NSW State of Origin halves partner can turn the club around as chief playmaker.
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Moses and Luai will attempt to make history on Wednesday night, as the first Blues pairing to win a decider at Suncorp Stadium since Braith Anasta and Andrew Johns in 2005.
But Luai faces an equally daunting challenge on his arrival at the Tigers next year.
The joint-venture have not won a premiership since 2005, while their most recent finals appearance was way back in 2011.
Moses knows as well as anyone the challenge that Luai will face at the Tigers next year.
He played 77 games at the club during their finals drought, before leaving for Parramatta midway through 2017.
And he has no doubt Luai can be the man to help turn the long-suffering Tigers around.
"He's a quality player, I think he can do whatever he is trying to do," Moses said.
"To be a halfback is a tough job, but I think he is ready for it. I back him 100 per cent, I think he will change that club at the Tigers."
Most questions around Luai's five-year, $6 million Tigers contract have centred around his ability to lead a team.
But the 27-year-old has been able to deliver while stepping up without Nathan Cleary in the No.7 jersey at Penrith for the past two months.
Luai has been Penrith's best through that period, winning four of the five games he has played without Cleary, with his kicking having also improved.
That form has carried into the Origin arena, where Luai and Moses were both on song in the Blues' 38-10 win in Melbourne three weeks ago.
Luai will wear No.6 on Wednesday night, and is unlikely to play halfback again this year with Cleary to return from injury for Penrith against the Dolphins on Sunday.
But Moses has seen enough to know what Luai can bring to a club, and what he will be able to do alongside Lachlan Galvin next year.
"He's a great team player, he always puts the team first. Whatever game plan we have, he is buying straight into it," Moses said.
"He puts the team first and competes on everything. He is such a great bloke. He is well liked around the squad here.
"He is a champion, I love playing with him ... We were just on the same page (in Melbourne).
"If we can do that and be on the same page again, nail the big moments, we will put ourselves in a good position to win the game."
Australian Associated Press
