Jarome Luai is set to leave Penrith – but reports of him signing with the Wests Tigers have been knocked back by the Samoa international, who insists that a deal is yet to be done.
The news broke on Saturday morning that the five eighth had signed a mammoth $6 milllion deal with the Tigers, but Luai later posted on social media denying that he had joined.
“No pen to paper here,” he wrote on Instagram. “I’ll let yous know when a deal is done. Big love”
He will, however, be leaving Penrith. The player informed his teammates after training on Saturday morning that he would not be staying at the foot of the mountains past 2024.
Canterbury are also in the race for his signature but the Tigers remain in the box seat.
When he signs with another club, there is a small chance that Penrith could convince him to stay.
Under the recently introduced transfer rules, the Panthers will have 10 days to present Luai with a counter-offer to get him to remain at the club although they will not be able to compete with the money on offer from their western Sydney rivals.
The 26-year-old NSW and Samoa representative had been offered a two-year deal to remain at Penrith with the three-time premiers hampered by a tight salary cap and unable to compete with rival bids.
He will see out the final year of his Penrith contract before making the switch in 2025.
Penrith deemed him worth a deal around $850,000 but the Tigers have locked him into a five-year arrangement worth $6 million, as first reported by the Sydney Morning Herald.
Marshall is believed to have promised Luai the No.7 jersey to take on a chief playmaker role after spending his career as a second option behind Nathan Cleary at the Panthers.
The Tigers have signed veteran Aidan Sezer to provide stopgap reliability alongside young prospects Jayden Sullivan and Latu Fainu next season in the halves.
Penrith have the nucleus of their premiership squad re-signed long term in Cleary, Isaiah Yeo, Brian To’o, James Fisher-Harris, Dylan Edwards, Moses Leota and Liam Martin.
They have also said farewell to back-up playmakers Sean O’Sullivan and Jack Cogger in recent seasons and have a young five-eighth coming through their ranks in former NSW under-19 representative Jack Cole, who is in line to inherit the No.6 jersey from Luai.
A lightning rod for controversy in recent seasons due to a series of ill-advised social media posts and his brash nature, Luai has played 107 matches for Penrith since his debut in 2018, starting in all three of their Grand Final wins.
He has represented the Blues in seven Origins and turned out for Samoa on 11 occasions, including the 2022 World Cup final loss to the Kangaroos.
Jarome Luai. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
Should he join the Tigers, it would be a huge vote of confidence for the club which underwent dramatic upheaval earlier this week when CEO Justin Pascoe resigned from his role after the entire board was dismissed following an independent review into the joint venture.
Interim boss Shane Richardson, who will begin his time at the Tigers on January 2, on Wednesday said he was a fan of Luai’s.
“I’ve made my feelings on Luai known for a long time,” Richardson said. “In my opinion, he was the best young half coming through.
“Not only that, he’s a great team leader. That Penrith side revolves around Luai. He’s a great person off the field despite what many media people like to try to make out.
“You couldn’t meet a better person than him and you couldn’t ask for a better person at the club. I’m not across it yet, so all I want to do is assist Benji to put together the best roster possible.”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I think he’s a (very) good complementary player. But to me when qld focused on Cleary, he didn’t have the ability to exploit the lesser focus that left on him.
jameswm
Roar Guru
He was very good in Origin last year, played his link role perfectly. Slotted in to 2nd fiddle to allow Cleary and Yeo run the show a bit more. Not so good this year though, when a bit more was needed. I think he's a terrific player, but to lead a GF winning side from the halves? Not sure about that. Tio lead a bottom team to the top 4? Ditto.
Tony
Roar Guru
I look forward to seeing him play
Albo
Roar Rookie
Goes ok for a schoolboy ! Has a pedigree and current support ? Next two years will tell.
Tony
Roar Guru
Is he any good?
Albo
Roar Rookie
And will take some replacing at the Panthers.
Albo
Roar Rookie
A second Cleary won't be far off !
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Luai is a winner Luai has played in a winning team. Has he showed he's a winner at Origin for example? Not really.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Unlike Milford and Brooks, Luai is a winner and a character that drives his team mates to perform as well. The Panthers won't be the same without him.
London Panther
Roar Rookie
I think you will find that Luai is exactly that individual; who brings and demands high standards and energy from his teammates. Will be a great signing for the Tigers.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Good for him. My personal thoughts are that he’s overpriced but totally agree with everyone’s decision. He needed a bog pay day, the Big tigers need a big player… we’ll see if that he happens
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
I saw the Geyer story, amazing he found time to do anything else with all that eating and lifting.
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
I don't think Liam needs much incentive. And even less for Luai. I'm thinking a repeat of Brad Izzard on Ben Elias or Mark Glanville on Craig Field. But we wish Luai well in his new venture as a giant bullseye
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That determines what the tigers are willing to pay. But where he falls in the NRL hierarchy will determine whether that’s a good deal or not. Which is what most are discussing.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Geyer is a pretty big lad & put on 7 kilos since last season, working out. Think he will surprise with his line breaking ability, offloading & pace. Riki is about 196 cm’s , 102 kilos. Runs well. Was a standout for the Māori team , but had some injuries last season. Hassett , was wanted out of Flegg by the Dolphins. Initially signed & then rejected the move. Must have something about him? Penrith signed former North Queenslander Price. He was looking for a chance.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
They paid $500,000 a season for Fainu from Manly. Too many cooks now?
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I think the best part of Luai’s game has been his running. Plus has improved with some short kicks in recent seasons. His combination with Cleary has been important, as they’ve played alongside each other for a long time. As for once in a generation for Luai. Other players playing 5/8 currently have far better attacking stats than he’s has. That’s not picking at him, it’s just a fact.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Didn't know Hoskings is going to the Raiders. Pretty useful, Panthers obviously confident with their other young backrowers.
dogs
Roar Rookie
I think we make too much of the "million dollar player" thing. With the way the cap is now, pretty much every team has one.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
I think comparisons like that aren’t always fair. What’s probably true is the drop from him to next best in his position is less than Cleary, Yeo or Edwards. So potentially he’s the closest to replaceable.