'You could tell': Broncos' plan to expose Luai

Penrith star Jarome Luai made an earlier than expected return from a shoulder injury last weekend but the Broncos will almost certainly "target" the playmaker's injured shoulder, says club director Darren Lockyer.

Speaking on Wide World of Sports' QLDER, Lockyer said while Luai's return was courageous, he still appeared to be bothered by the injury in the victory over the Storm.

"He still doesn't look 100 per cent," Lockyer said.

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"There was no way anyone thought he was going to be 100 per cent.

"You could tell every time he went into contact that left arm was hanging down. I think there will be an opportunity where they could run some plays to his outside shoulder.

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"He'll get confidence out of the fact that he got through a game. He'll have another week to heal even further but I still think he's nowhere near being 100 per cent. There's no doubt the Broncos will have some set plays that target him."

Luai came back two weeks early from a dislocated shoulder in the preliminary final against Melbourne, but did not see too much traffic come down his edge.

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That will almost certainly change in the grand final with Broncos forwards Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan likely to run lines at Luai's suspect shoulder.

"I expect Payne Haas to run at him with one of the first carries in the game," Wally Lewis told QLDER.

Jerome Luai of the Panthers is assisted from the field after sustaining an injury during the round 26 NRL match between Penrith Panthers and Parramatta Eels at BlueBet Stadium on August 24, 2023 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

"Any injury taken into the game can be seen as a gamble and it will be a matter of time. But I don't think that will be their No.1 priority, they'll be sticking to their game plan."

Luai's comeback has been described as miraculous since his season looked over when he was helped off the ground in round 26.

Speaking to 9News on Tuesday, the five-eighth gave the injured shoulder a rating of seven out of 10, saying he's close to full fitness, thanks to a unique regiment.

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"Recovery, physio, a lot of bone broth," he said.

"Some creams and ointments. I was down at the organic shop in Penrith a lot just trying to do whatever, all the little (one) percenters that people don't see to get back."

The Panthers and Broncos meet at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Sunday.

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