NSW superstar Jarome Luai jokingly said his “life flashed before his eyes” after he needed to be rescued from URBNSURF on Tuesday morning.
The Blues were enjoying a recovery session at the man-made surf park when Luai jumped in with a bodyboard.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Jarome Luai needs to be rescued.
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However, Luai found himself in a spot of bother and immediately needed rescuing from a lifeguad.
7NEWS Sydney reporter Jelisa Apps was on the scene.
“Jarome got a bit too excited and immediately ran in with a bodyboard and immediately needed to be rescued,” she said.
Luai was able to have a laugh about the incident, saying it was a dare from teammates.
“Just jumped the gun, just wanted to attack it head on and almost died out there, so grateful to be alive,” he said with a laugh.
“My life flashed before my eyes. It was a bit of a dare from the boys, it was a good laugh.”
Luai spent the next 15 minutes watching on from land, as NSW teammates attempted to learn to surf.
Noted surfer Connor Watson was the best of the Blues on the board, with Zac Lomax, Matt Burton and Cameron Murray also showing some skills.
Luai returned to the water later with a bodyboard, before receiving a second standing ovation from Blues players.
“I wasn’t actually worried, just embarrassed more,” the Penrith No.6 said.
“I can swim, I can float. I guess that is enough.”
Luai said he planned to attack Queensland in the same way in next Wednesday’s State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.
The Blues are desperate to take a no-fear approach, with NSW having lost the past five deciders in Brisbane.
Luai will be at the forefront of that, thriving on the vitriol of a one-sided pro-Maroons crowd.
“I’m glad he survived … I love where his head is at (with that fearless approach),” Watson said.
“He’s massive for us. He’s been doing such a great job for Penrith, really stepping up in that role.
“He’s doing that for this team as well. His leadership and his energy he brings to games, training and the intensity … it is pretty cool to see.
“We saw what he did in game two, I’m looking forward to running back out there with him.”
NSW were due to head for the relative calmness of their Blue Mountains camp on Tuesday afternoon, before the team’s first major training session on Wednesday.
– With AAP
