Jarome Luai set to sign monster five-year deal with Wests Tigers

Jarome Luai is set to sign a monster five-year deal worth more than $6 million with Wests Tigers.

The Panthers star has told Penrith he will not be at the club beyond next season and will join the joint-venture club from 2025.

The premiers had offered Luai a three-year, $2.55 million deal to remain at the club in 2025 and 2026, but the NSW and Samoan representative instead decided to test his value on the open market.

Jarome Luai is moving to the Tigers.Credit: Penrith Panthers

Luai has played 107 matches for the Panthers, winning the past three straight grand finals.

Under the NRL’s new rules, Luai can only declare his intention to sign with the Tigers, giving Penrith a 10-day period to come up with a bigger offer to try to keep him.

Luai also retains the right to pull out of the deal with the Tigers during that period, creating a fortnight of intrigue about his future, given the big-money offer also on the table from the Bulldogs, worth about $5.5 million over five years.

Shane Richardson was only appointed interim chief executive of the Tigers on Tuesday, but made the pursuit of Luai a priority.

Despite not officially starting in the top job until the new year, Richardson organised to meet with Luai’s management on Thursday where he was assured the club remained a viable option.

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Canterbury were viewed as favourites to land Luai’s signature, where he would have reunited with several former Panthers, including new recruit Stephen Crichton and coach Cameron Ciraldo. But the swift reaction to the boardroom clean-out at the Tigers made sure they remained in the race.

Tigers coach Benji Marshall, a one-time favourite of Luai when he was growing up, has also been hands-on in the chase for Luai, and told him why the player and club would be a good fit.

More to come

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