Jarome Luai’s six-year-old son Israel could be the boy behind the NRL’s next great line dropout revolution.
One week on from being one of NSW’s State of Origin heroes, Luai has revealed the real person behind the most effective line dropouts in the game.
NRL data shows that of the 368 line dropouts kicked across the first 20 rounds of this season, 239 have been considered short.
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Of those, 70 have been retained by the kicking team, at a strike-rate of 29.3 per cent.
But Luai’s record now sits at a perfect two-from-two after his left boot was called upon by the Blues in Origin III.
Luai’s approach was unique, and in the form of a rugby union style drop kick.
While most kickers strike through the ball on a line dropout, the Penrith No.6 gets his boot under the ball after letting it have a higher bounce.
The result was a far greater height on a hanging kick, allowing his outside men to set under the ball.
Twice, NSW were able to regather, ending prolonged attacking raids on their tryline from the Maroons.
The kicks prompted suggestions from Andrew Johns they had been the brainchild of All Blacks legend Richie Mo’unga, who spent time in NSW camp before Origin III.
But in truth, the coaching had come from far closer to home with a six-year-old the key advisor.
“That’s all backyard stuff with me and my little boy,” Luai told AAP.
“Israel, my oldest son is six. I’m not even joking, he can probably do it better than me.
“Him giving me a bit of stick saying he is better than me gave me a bit of motivation. He is the motivator behind it.”
Luai’s drop-out style does come with its challenges.
The rounder nature of a rugby union ball makes for an easier bounce for lofted drop kicks, as opposed to the skinnier Steeden used in league.
Luai is therefore unsure if others will follow he and his son Israel into the tactic.
“You just really need to get the drop right,” Luai said.
“I’ve been doing a few in training. Early on I wasn’t too great at them. But I think just bouncing the ball and getting the bounce of it right is key.
“Once you do that, you can start to feel how you want to strike the ball.
“I just found something that works for me. Everyone is different in their own way.
“I need to keep continuing to grow the weapons in my bag. I can still get better at that, I’ve got to keep practising with my little man.”
Luai said it was unlikely the dropouts would be seen at Penrith this year, with he and Nathan Cleary to play their first game together in more than two months against St George Illawarra on Sunday.
“We have the ice man here, so I’ll be sweet,” he said.