The Wests Tigers' halfback met with the media on Sunday following his team's narrow 21-20 victory over a poorly performing opponent.Gold Coast Titans outfit.
It's typical for athletes to have a beverage during media sessions following 80 minutes of intense football, often opting for water or a sports drink such as Powerade, the NRL's sponsor.
Nevertheless, Luai sought out something a bit more questionable following his victory, carrying a can of Coca-Cola as he faced the media crowd.
In comical moments, he used both hands to hide the label as he drank from the can, trying unsuccessfully to conceal the drink's brand.
"Jarome Luai attempting to subtly hide a Coke can before taking a drink during the press conference," an NRL fan page shared with the video.
"Bad selection for a post-game beverage," another person commented.
Although it is one of the biggest beverage brands worldwide, many would not consider Coca-Cola to be a suitable option for athletes needing to replenish their energy following an intense match.
Nevertheless, it may offer advantages - even for athletes such as Luai.
High-performance nutrition expert Taryn Richardson states that Coca-Cola can serve as an effective aid for long-distance athletes when utilized properly.
On her podcast, she mentioned that it offers easily accessible carbohydrates, caffeine, and a minimal quantity of sodium during extended activities.
"It might actually improve performance," she mentioned, then noted that it's "bad for your teeth" and not advised except during training or competition.
Coke has approximately 10 grams of sugar in every 100 milliliters, which makes it more sweet than many sports beverages.
A high sugar level provides quick-digesting energy when glycogen reserves are low.
Its caffeine content enhances alertness and diminishes tiredness during the later phases of competition. Some athletes also utilize it as a way to refresh their taste buds or for a mental reset following extended periods of consuming sweet gels and drinks.
Nevertheless, Richardson cautioned against using it as the sole source of energy.
"Test it during practice first," she remarked, highlighting that personal reactions may differ.
Luai isn't the only NRL player who enjoys a chilled can of Coca-Cola on match day.
His previous Penrith teammate and closest friendBrian To'o is a famous fan of the carbonated beverage, specifically the no-sugar version..
The Penrith Panthers and NSW Blues player once mentioned that he consumed almost 600 cans of Coke No Sugar within a single month during the off-season, stating he experienced no negative consequences.
'Coke supported Penrith, so they sent me 24 boxes containing 24 packs... I received them in October and they were all gone by November,' he said.
Coca-Cola provided a significant reward following news of his well-known pre-game meal: two breakfast burgers, a bowl of chips with aioli, a cafe latte containing two sugars, and six cans of Coke Zero.
To'o mentioned that the routine started when he was 14, following a strong performance after eating a similar meal.
"I had it once when I was young and performed exceptionally well, so I continued with it," he stated.
At that time, he ate outside the home to keep it hidden from his parents.
'My parents discovered it after my second NRL match,' he chuckled.
At that moment, Luai openly referred to it as the 'worst diet in NRL history.'
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