Jarome Luai might be a master of the deceptive play, but his latest attempt at subterfuge fell flat after he was busted by eagle-eyed NRL fans.
The Wests Tigers playmaker sat down to front media on Sunday after his club escaped with a 21-20 win over a wasteful Gold Coast Titans outfit.
It is common for players to bring a drink into the media conferences after 80 minutes of tough football, and they usually choose water or a sports drink like NRL sponsor Powerade.
However, Luai had a thirst for something a little unhealthier after the win, bringing a can of Coca-Cola with him as he fronted the media scrum.
In hilarious scenes, he used both hands to cover the label while he sipped from the can, in a failed attempt to disguise the brand of the beverage.
‘Jarome Luai trying to not so subtly cover a Coke can before taking a sip during the press conference,’ an NRL fan page posted with the video.
Jarome Luai (pictured with Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall) took a big chug from a can of Coca-Cola while disguising the label with both hands on Sunday
While Luai was able to use his guile to secure a vital win for the Tigers, his attempts to hide the can of Coke were not as successful
‘Poor post game drink choice,’ another posted.
While it is one of the largest drink brands on the planet, few would agree that Coca-Cola is an ideal choice for athletes looking to refuel after a gruelling game.
However, it can have its benefits – even for athletes like Luai.
Advanced Sports Dietitian Taryn Richardson says Coca-Cola can be a useful tool for endurance athletes when used strategically.
On her podcast, she explained it provides quick-access carbohydrates, caffeine and a small amount of sodium during long events.
‘It can actually be a performance enhancer,’ she said, before adding that it’s ‘terrible for your teeth’ and not recommended outside of training or racing.
Coke contains about 10g of sugar per 100mL, making it sweeter than most sports drinks.
That high sugar content delivers fast-digesting fuel when glycogen stores are depleted.
New South Wales and former Penrith teammates Luai and Brian To’o are both big fans of a can of fizzy Coca-Cola
To’o loves Coke No Sugar so much, the company sent him 24 cartons of the drink to enjoy
Its caffeine helps improve alertness and reduce fatigue in late stages of racing. Some athletes also use it as a palate cleanser or psychological reset after hours of taking in sweet gels and fluids.
However, Richardson warned not to rely on it as the only source of fuel.
‘Try it in training first,’ she said, noting individual responses will vary.
Luai is not the only NRL star who likes a cold can of Coca-Cola on game day.
His former Penrith teammate and best friend Brian To’o is a well-known addict of the fizzy drink, albeit the No Sugar variety.
The Penrith Panthers and NSW Blues star previously revealed he drank nearly 600 cans of Coke No Sugar in just one month in the offseason, claiming he felt no ill effects.
‘Coke sponsored Penrith so they sent me 24 boxes of 24 packs… I got them in October and they were finished by November,’ he said.
Coca-Cola delivered the massive haul after hearing about his infamous pre-game meal: two breakfast burgers, a bowl of chips with aioli, a cafe latte with two sugars, and six cans of Coke Zero.
To’o said the routine began at age 14 after a strong performance following a similar meal.
‘I had it once when I was young and played really well, so I kept doing it,’ he said.
Back then, he ate outside the house to keep it secret from his parents.
‘Mum and Dad found out after my second NRL game,’ he laughed.
At the time, Luai described it bluntly as the ‘worst diet in NRL history.’
