How Penrith Panthers star Jarome Luai had his baby girl induced to avoid clash with NRL grand final

Panthers star Jarome Luai is so serious about winning Sunday’s grand final that he had his newborn daughter induced with partner Bailey Paris Toleafoa on Monday to ensure the birth didn’t collide with the big game.

The 25-year-old welcomed daughter Halo, his third child with Toleafoa, on Monday – posting an adorable photo of the newborn in a crib wrapped in a hospital blanket.

The couple are already parents to Akira, 10 months, and Izzy, four.

He followed up the photo with some shots of Izzy meeting his new sister, with the toddler laughing at a photo with his mom before kissing Halo affectionately on the cheek.

Luai’s partner Bailey Paris Toleafoa with the couple’s son Izzy, with daughter Halo lying in the crib wrapped in a hospital blanket

Luai has vowed to take home a premiership ring for Toleafoa after she was brought into labor to avoid a potentially major final dilemma.

He returned on Tuesday for the club’s fan and media day, before rushing back to the hospital to bring Halo home for the first time.

With their baby initially expected on Tuesday, the couple had long planned to speed up the process if necessary to ensure there would be no clash with Sunday’s decider.

By doing so, they avoided the situation Luai’s opponent Mitchell Moses faced last week when he missed the birth of his first child to play in Parramatta’s preliminary overall win in Townsville.

Jarome Luai takes a few selfies with Panthers fans during the club’s open practice session in Penrith on Tuesday morning

Now the pair will go head-to-head in the title decider at Accor Stadium after rollercoaster weeks.

“We had previously planned that if we made it to the grand final, Bailey would be induced on Monday,” Luai told AAP on Tuesday.

“She was due today. It just feels like the stars are aligned for us. They are special moments that I will never forget and cherish until I die.

“Just thankful and blessed that the baby is healthy and my partner is healthy and now I can focus on my work,” said a beaming Luai.

Luai thanks a woman on his Instagram who appears to be the couple’s nurse or midwife

The Penrith star also posted a photo of a woman in scrubs who appears to be the couple’s nurse or midwife, with the two smiling and Luai thanking her with a love heart emoji.

Now that he has three children under four, he was also convinced that sleeping won’t be a problem this week as he prepares for the biggest game of the season.

He jokingly claimed that he was considering sleeping in a hotel room to make sure he was well equipped to play a pivotal role in Penrith’s shot at successive titles.

Jarome Luai holds son Izzy while partner Bailey Paris Toleafoa holds 10-month-old daughter Akira after recent Panthers game

But the beautiful bond he shares with his partner ensures that this will not be necessary.

‘I am nice. I’m going to sleep and my wife will make sure I sleep anyway,” Luai said of his big preparations for the last week.

“She’s that kind of person. Very selfless. She knows how much this means to me and the boys.

“She’s going to play her part, I’m sure. And I’m going to do my best to bring home a ring for her,” the Panthers star promised.

Brian To’o posted a tribute to Luai’s daughter Halo, captioning it with a photo of the newborn ‘My Goddaughter’

Good friend and Panthers teammate Brian To’o posted a sweet Instagram tribute to Halo Monday, captioning a photo of the newborn “My Goddaughter,” complete with a love heart and a happy crying face emoji.

Luai and 10-month-old daughter Akira were photographed sharing a sweet father-daughter moment on the grass at Accor Stadium after Penrith’s 32-12 preliminary overall win over South Sydney.

A beaming Luai sat against the goalposts and played with his Akira before posing for photos.

Judging by the smiles on both their faces, it was a precious moment of peace and joy in the lead up to the most hectic week on the rugby league calendar.

Jarome Luai plays with daughter Akira on the lawn of Accor Stadium after winning Saturday’s preliminary grand final

A radiant Luai and Akira then posed for photos – just two days before he welcomed his second daughter

In more good news, the star five-eighth said Halo’s healthy arrival also meant he was still able to move forward with his World Cup plans, and he was named in Samoa’s 24-man roster on Tuesday.

He will appear alongside five of his Penrith teammates in a surprising star-studded squad for the Tier 2 nation.

Other stars mentioned include Junior Paulo, Joseph Suaalii, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, David Nofoaluma and Anthony Milford.