The NRL world did a backflip on Saturday morning as news broke that Jarome Luai was set to depart the Penrith Panthers for the Wests Tigers, swapped first for last in the process.
Not long after, however, the stories were walked back a little, with Luai taking to social media to deny the reports and other sources revealing that he had not, in fact, put pen to paper.
Though the player told his teammates that he would depart, it was still unclear if the Tigers would be his destination.
At the heart of the debate was the NRL’s new transfer regulations, which were altered as part of the protracted CBA discussions and came into force on November 1.
They allow players to have a ten day grace period on moving clubs, with the ‘cooling off’ period adapted to assist clubs in retaining talent.
The rules aren’t as complicated as they are sometimes made to sound, but are vital to how the biggest deal of the 2023/24 offseason is set to go down.
When a player gets an offer from a rival club – as Luai has from the Tigers – and they are willing to accept, then their current club gets ten days of exclusivity to make them a better offer to stay.
They don’t have to use this right, and can waive it – which is what happens most of the time, and is why it’s not really that much of a talking point.
Once the offer is submitted to the NRL (for salary cap audit purposes), it is open for 14 days and can be accepted by the player.
Crucially, their current club aren’t told how much the offer is for, and the player or the rival club are under no obligations to disclose the value either.
A third party rival club – say, the Canterbury Bulldogs – don’t know how much the offer is for, either, at least not officially.
At the end of the ten days, the player can either accept or reject the offer, completing the process.
With reference to Luai, this is why the story that the Tigers had signed him was quickly wheeled back, and why the player’s Instagram post denying that he had signed anything was correct.
Luai won’t have signed anything, because he doesn’t have to for ten days, meaning that, in the official sense of it, he hasn’t yet committed to join the Tigers. He couldn’t under the rules.
This setup essentially allows Penrith to save face or cut their losses.
Though the Tigers have to wait ten days, that could be expedited if they submit in writing to the NRL that they are happy for the player to leave. That would be the losses-cutting option, though given that the move isn’t due to take place until 2025, it wouldn’t make much sense to do that.
What would make better PR would be submitting another offer (or at least, intimating that they have) so that the onus is on Luai to reject the Premiers to sign for the wooden spooners. If Penrith’s interest was winning a media war, then that’s what they should do.
Jarome Luai. (Photo by Getty Images/Getty Images)
In reality, that we are now studying the finer points of transfer regulations suggests that the deal is done in all but ink.
This is rugby league, of course, where nothing is done until the player is photographed in their new colours, but then, contracts have never really meant much in this sport to start with.
For ten days, the Tigers will be having kittens. It’s now known that they are all-in on the player, but also that he can still reject them at the end of it. They’ve shown every card they have.
They are in the position that the Gold Coast Titans were in back in March of 2015, when the club released a statement celebrating the arrival of Daly Cherry-Evans, only for the halfback to backflip and stay at Manly.
They’ll know behind the scenes what Luai has said, but until the pen is on the paper, everything is changeable.
When the NRL makes changes to these kind of rules, they often look very complicated and arcane, especially to the average punter who just wants to know what is happening.
The way that most fans learn about these rules is when a high profile transfer takes place and is subject to the new way of doing things – exactly what is happening here.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Back in September, when they were first announced, they were seen as a slightly arcane piece of regulation that didn’t really make a great deal of sense, but suited all parties in negotiations and therefore existed.
Anyone with a cursory memory of rugby league player movements knows that contracts can be made meaningless almost instantly if the star in question wants to go.
The idea that Penrith, for example, don’t know what Luai wants and don’t know what the Tigers are offering him financially is so ludicrous as not to merit mention. Yet, under the rules, that is officially the case.
Now that one of the most high-profile players in the league is subject to these rules, and a series of stories confirming a move have had to be walked back a touch, fans will be able tp put these new rules to the pub test.
Of course, the average punter knows that, in real life, people tend to pick between options, sign contracts and then are forced to stick to them.
But rugby league is not real life. It has its own rules.
Now, they are about to be tested in the court of public opinion in the most high profile way possible – and if Luai doesn’t join the Tigers, people might start to question what the point of the changes were in the first place.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Luai has been great at the club I wish him well. No doubt the continued loss of top players will have a detrimental long term effect in the clubs first grade sides performances. It just has to at some point, losing so many top players. Other players have shown how really professional they are as players & athletes in recent seasons, given the same situation Luai is in now. With a season to run there. Luai if angry at the club , because he thinks he was undervalued by the club? Angry because of Ivan’s comments? These things together, or something else? Needs to act in a professional manner & do his best next season! He needs to not be a disruptive influence there . If he can’t manage this? Those who suggest a swap deal are correct. Best deal now for Penrith & into the future, would then be to swap him for Galvin. This young player will be blocked at West’s, from getting a role in first grade . He will be a star player & Penrith could get him to play alongside of Nathan Cleary in the future.
ScouseinOz
Roar Rookie
The circus never leaves the road. After Luai dies down then Dearden will be next into the tent. Latrell signing with Souths and Suaallii Roosters tit for tat. Isaiah Papalli moving to Tigers to play under Michael Maguire are obvious examples of the current system. However, This system is still far superior to the June 30 backflip one. No matter what happen the player managers will probably still ruin it for the fans. Look its ok to disagree. I personally think Jack Wighton's departure was a good template of how things should happen. I think football Bosman transfers have it perfect. Somewhere between the NRL and the US Sports that move you at a days notice. Just my opinion.
Nat
Roar Guru
5 years or 50k rides… :laughing:
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
What difference does it make how far ahead a player signs with a new Club? I'm yet to hear how this negatively impacts current performance for the departing player. I also don't see what difference moving it to the 1st of May would make, other than reducing the time from 16 months to 10? The longer losing Clubs have to work on replacements, the better off they have to be? As others have said, why not get this circus out of the road now, so players and Clubs can focus on footy for the next 11 months?
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Seems this process ensures the current club will underbid knowing they can up the offer. A good thing is that all offers need to be lodged with the NRL stopping agents from pumping up the price in the media. When offers are lodged with the NRL I would like the NRL to consider the salary cap, and not accept the offer if it puts the club over the cap, that is force them to make the cap space available, or show how they will, B4 making an offer.
KenW
Roar Rookie
It's not speculative though, we did that for a long time though and it was definitely worse than what we have now. The journalists knew what was happening so we'd have 12 months of whispers and speculations before the deal was 'suddenly' put together on July 1 - as the comp was gearing up for imminent finals. Now it's a circus for a few weeks - often in the off-season like now - and then it's done and put to the side so that Luai can get on with his season at Penrith.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
I don’t understand why the NRL makes the signing of a contract so complicated, as we all know, contracts mean nothing. Why don’t we just say Luai is going to play for the Tigers in 2025 for $1.2m - after that, who knows!
Redcap
Roar Guru
I resemble that remark.
ScouseinOz
Roar Rookie
Everyone pretends its not happening is definitely the winner :thumbup:
ScouseinOz
Roar Rookie
The idea that Penrith dont know what Wests Tigers have offered Luai isnt worth formalising a process. This 2 week rule just adds more unneccessary media innuendo. Its made even worse with it being in the off season. Theres no rugby league played so all the journalists are focussed on Luai. The alternative is to move it forward 6 months to 1st May. It works well in football with bosman transfers. Fans also understand that if a player hasnt signed a contract by that stage then they are already on the way out, which takes alot of the drama out for the player. The other positive is that players will see the season out, sort of like Wighton did with Canberra. There's none of the, "He's signed for 2025, how about a release for 2024?" That does fans heads in. Clubs, players and managers will always do things well before the deadline. Thats inevitable and fine. Still, no other sport in the world has a deadline that far ahead.
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
And in the words of the late and great Jim Morrison "people are strange"
KenW
Roar Rookie
That's right. There's no universe where players and clubs aren't negotiating a year or more out - it's only whether it's out in the open or if everyone pretends it's not happening.
Redcap
Roar Guru
In the immortal words of Douglas Adams, 'people are a problem'.
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
I wonder how long until marriages come with a cooling off period?
Redcap
Roar Guru
"Of course, the average punter knows that, in real life, people tend to pick between options, sign contracts and then are forced to stick to them..." To some extent. In 'real life' (whatever that means) people make mistakes, or their circumstances change, and they break contracts pretty regularly. Head down to your local CAT (Civil and Administrative Tribunal) any day for examples. Cooling-off periods are a very common feature of consumer laws, especially concerning big financial and/or life decisions, because it's not at all uncommon for somebody to be wowed by an offer, sign a contract and then think, 'hang on...' There's nothing unusual about the Luai situation other than that it's being heavily reported on by third parties.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I'm glad Mike clarified this situation for the general public. I'd reckon more than a few Tigers fans would have been very concerned when they read that Luai hadn't actually signed. He still might not, but the fact that an announcement was made should suggest the time for Penrith to come up with a deal to keep him there, is well and truly past
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Players and their managers, will be scouting deals well before their current contract expires. All this does is formalise a process. What do you suggest as an alternative? I can't see one myself.
andrew
Roar Rookie
I’d think it starts when it’s submitted to the NRL. What are the odds of Gus, rising like Godzilla, making a play for Luai at the last minute.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
And even then, I'd probably wait to celebrate until he has a man of the match award or two.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
So does the 10 days start from the first day the media report it, or the first day the contract is submitted to the NRL? I imagine in some cases, like this one, Luai, the Panthers and the Tigers gain nothing from it being in the news, other than the Panthers hearing what the rumoured value is. So for all we know, even though it was in the news Saturday and everyone is starting to count the 10 day clock, for all we know we are already three or four or eight days in...