Jarome Luai in sad Panthers moment as vision emerges after $6 ...
Jarome Luai (pictured) has been pictured in a huddle with his Panthers teammates after reports emerged the five-eighth told the club he was intending on leaving after the 2024 season. (Images: Getty Images/Channel Nine)
Jarome Luai has been pictured in a huddle with his Panthers teammates after reports emerged the five-eighth told the club he was intending on accepting an offer from the Wests Tigers. On Saturday, Michael Chammas from The Sydney Morning Herald reported Luai had agreed to move to the Tigers on a five-year deal worth $6 million.
The development sent shockwaves through the NRL with the Panthers set to lose their premiership winning five-eighth as their reported bid of between $800,000 to $850,000 per year doesn't appear enough. However, Luai was quick to respond to the reports with a message to his fans on social media and said no deal had been signed.
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However, Channel Nine footage has emerged of Luai in a huddle with his Panthers teammates. Luai reportedly told his teammates and Ivan Cleary he would be leaving the club after winning three-straight premierships with the Panthers.
He was seen shaking hands with a number of his teammates and friends after the huddle. While Luai may have not signed for the Tigers, a new NRL rule states the player must inform their club they have received an offer they will accept, which allows the incumbent club 10 days to negotiate a better contract.
The rule appears bizarre, considering the Panthers have already been negotiating with Luai throughout the whole process. So, Luai may have not put pen to paper, but it also doesn't mean he isn't ready to accept the offer from the Wests Tigers. The new rule only clouds Luai's move in even more uncertainty as fans wait on an officials decision.
Mate you have to admit this 10 day rule is a load of rubbish. Should be once he agrees it either Tigers or Panthers and that’s it. No other club should be able to come in
— Chris (@hsvjones1) December 16, 2023
Shane Richardson, the former South Sydney CEO, has long been an admirer of the five-eighth, having previously tried to sign the 26-year-old at the Rabbitohs. “I’ve made my feelings on Luai well known for a long while. In my opinion, he was the best young half coming through,” Richardson said.
Jarome Luai (pictured) has reportedly told his teammates and coach Ivan Cleary he will leave after his current Panthers contract. (Photo by Jenny Evans/Getty Images) (Jenny Evans via Getty Images)
Richardson was full of praise for Luai and his endorsement leaves the Tigers as huge frontrunners for the five-eighth's signature. “He’s proven at the highest level he was the best young half coming through," Richardson said about Luai.
"Not only that, he’s a great team leader, that Penrith side revolves around Luai. He is a great person off the field despite what many media people try to make out. You couldn’t meet a better person than him and you couldn’t ask for a better person at your club.”
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