Top to bottom for Luai
Five-eighth quits Panthers to join boyhood hero
Jarome Luai is hoping to win “five rings” at the Wests Tigers after signing a five-year deal worth a reported $6m.
The Panthers five-eighth has won three premierships in a row but will head to a team next year that has won the past two wooden spoons, which is one of the reasons he described it as the “toughest decision of my career and life”.
Luai’s announcement came after months of speculation as to where he would end up. Along with the Panthers and Bulldogs, his manager said on Wednesday several clubs had been interested in signing him.
Money was obviously a motivating factor for the 26-yearold, who has three children and got engaged to be married last week, but a chance to work with Tigers coach Benji Marshall was too good to ignore given the Kiwis star has been his idol since he dazzled the crowd with a stunning play in the 2005 decider.
“The obvious reason was that it was a great opportunity to provide for my family but also to create something for myself,” Luai said. “I’ve had a great connection with Benji and we spoke about the future and what he sees in me.
“My first game of rugby league was that grand final.
“I was on a camping trip with my family and I got to see him do his thing out there and that inspired me.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Benji and the way that he holds himself. I got the opportunity to chuck the boots on with him in the Maori camp and I actually got to room with him which was pretty cool.”
Signing Luai could be the turning point for a club that’s been starved of success, with the Tigers last making the finals in 2011.
“We are super excited to announce the signing of Jarome for the 2025 season on a fiveyear deal,” Marshall said.
“His experience as a genuine premiership-winning playmaker will be great for us and the future of our club. We love the way Jarome plays his footy and even better, he is a great person.”
Luai now has the chance to be the chief playmaker after playing his entire career alongside champion halfback Nathan Cleary.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary questioned whether Luai could handle that role when asked about it last year, although he showed he’s more than capable after taking Samoa to the 2021 World Cup final.
“He wasn’t lying,” Luai said, confirming he’s fully committed to helping Penrith win a fourth title. “At the end of the day, he was right because I haven’t proven it on the biggest stage yet. That’s what I want to prove to myself.”
Luai used Wednesday’s press conference to officially tell the Bulldogs they’d missed out, which he said had hurt because of his strong links to coach Cameron Ciraldo and best friend Stephen Crichton, who left Penrith to join the Bulldogs. “I’ve got a lot of brothers over there already and Ciraldo’s like my second dad, so that was pretty tough to turn that away and walk this path alone and face this new challenge,” Luai said.