See the moment footy star Jarome Luai has to be rescued by a lifeguard

•  Blues Jarome Luai star rescued by lifeguard at surf park
•  NSW playmaker said that he is grateful to be alive
•  Luai admitted that there aren’t any beaches in Penrith

New South Wales playmaker Jarome Luai proved he’s not one for water sports when he had to be dragged to safety by a lifeguard during a visit to a water park.

The talented five eighth was with his Blues teammates at man-made surf park URBNSURF at Homebush on Tuesday morning when he decided to rush in with a boogie board ahead of the rest of the side.

A short while later Luai was pictured being dragged to safety by a lifeguard while another dived in the water to assist.

‘Cowabunga dude, I think my life flashed before my eyes,’ Luai joked to reporters afterwards.

‘I almost died out there, I’m grateful to be alive.

‘Thanks to the lifeguard out there, he had to drag me in. I think I owe him one.

‘I attacked it, it was a bit of a dare from the boys … it was a good laugh aye.

‘I just wanted to attack it head on.

‘I’m scarred for life.’

Luai was in good spirts after the rescue and could certainly see the funny side of things.

‘I was embarrassed, man. It was a good laugh for the boys. It was pretty cool,’ Luai said.

‘There are no beaches at Penrith, we don’t get much practice out there. 

‘But I thought I tried my luck anyway, it didn’t go too well.’

The Blues team completed a recovery session before they will again travel west to the Blue Mountains for their Origin camp. 

With the series locked at 1-1, the decider between NSW and Queensland will be staged at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday, July 17.

Queensland coach Billy Slater is chasing his third successive series triumph, with NSW last lifting the interstate shield in 2021.

On Monday, Blues coach Michael Maguire took a jab at his Queensland rival Billy Slater by branding his side the ‘people’s team’ after the Maroons cancelled their squad’s scheduled media day.

‘Yeah okay, that’s probably the path they have gone. What I have learnt in this role that the Origin team, it’s really about the people,’ Maguire said.

‘It’s the people’s team. I have definitely felt that in the enormity of the role and everywhere you go around NSW, the support of the fans and the people.

‘The passion they have behind this team is quite incredible, and obviously being in this role you do feel that.

‘I see this team as part of the people’s team, and it’s something that our group has adopted (and) that we want to bring everyone along the journey.’