NRL contract news: Jarome Luai reportedly signs monster deal with Wests Tigers
Jarome Luai’s free agency could be over, with the former Panthers five-eighth reportedly signing a massive five-year contract with the Wests Tigers.
Luai has reportedly signed on for the next half-decade in Tiger Town for over $6 million, according to SMH’s Michael Chammas.
An integral part of the Panthers’ three-peat, Luai was rumoured to have a strong interest in the Tigers throughout his free agency, due to the price point they were able to offer him, as well as the presence of NRL great and new head coach Benji Marshall.
After a three-month freeze on negotiations following a split from his previous agent, Luai has now linked up with Black Money Enterprises — the same company that represents the likes of Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton.
With the likes of Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin both earning upgraded deals in recent months, there was significant salary cap pressure on the NRL heavyweights, which led to the reigning premiers being unable to match the lofty salary offered by Wests.
The potential for Luai to leave the Panthers could come down to money according to NSW coach Brad Fittler, who believes the five-eighth will attract stronger offers from other teams.
On a recent episode of Freddy And The Eighth, Fittler claimed that Luai could be the perfect foil to a side with an organising halfback – similar to his partnership with Nathan Cleary.
“I think it comes down to the circumstances at Penrith, from a point of view of money,” he said.
“It probably depends what the difference in between leaving and staying… in terms of money value. It would be great for him to stay – he and Nathan have been together since they were 16 years old.
“He’s done it on every stage, he’s been good at Origin, he’s been involved in grand finals. He’s the other person that can add that bit of flair, if you’ve got an organising half.
“In today’s market, he’s easy $800,000 to $1 million. I think it all depends what the difference is… he’s got to weight that up.”
Luai is currently on an estimated contract of $700,000 with the reigning premiers, but could earn up to $1 million on his next deal if he was to switch clubs.
Andrew Johns however admitted the struggle for Luai could come with not being the number-one guy at the Panthers.
“I see Jarome as a backup singer,” he said.
“He’s not a main playmaker… if I valued him, it would be up around 600-700k player. If he went on the open market, he’d get $1 million because there’s limited halves in the game.
“He’s not an organising half – in today’s market, who’s looking to buy Jarome? It’s the teams outside the eight really, so he’s got to make the decision.
“I think he will go – he’s won competitions, he is probably looking at his family, Jarome is from humble backgrounds.”
With two premiership rings and continued success at the Panthers, there’s no reason to believe Luai would want to move away from the club and his partnership with Nathan Cleary.
But according to Cronulla and NSW great Paul Gallen, there could be a burning desire inside of Luai to become his own man.
“He’s here this year and he’s here next year as well – if they win three in a row, that’s a hell of an amount of success you’ve had,” he told 100% Footy.
“Does he then want to go and lead a team himself to success? That’s probably what I wonder. He went away and led Samoa to a World Cup final.
“I can’t say he’s in Cleary’s shadow, but when you think of Penrith, you probably think of Cleary before Jarome Luai. I wonder if he wants to be his own man and become his own leader.
“I don’t know him as a person and I don’t know what his goals may be, but I can see from a halfback or game-manager point of view… I could see it.”
With just over 100 NRL games to his name, the local junior is a vital part of the Penrith system and gives the side plenty of energy, both on and off the field.
Leave a Reply