Jarome Luai in sad Panthers move amid bombshell $6 million Wests Tigers update
Jarome Luai's next move has been shrouded in controversy.
Penrith Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai has spoken out after reports he had signed a huge $6 million Wests Tigers deal, but the move has taken a fresh twist with a 10 day cooling off close. 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.
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"No pen to paper here. I'll let yous know when a deal is done. Big Love," he wrote. While Luai may have not signed for the Tigers, the 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.
Reports claimed Luai has spoken to Ivan Cleary and told him about his intention to leave. Luai has also reportedly told the players of his option to leave at the end of 2024.
But NRL fans have taken aim at the new rule that gives the Panthers 10 days to negotiate a better contract if possible. Fans felt this only opened up the deal and Luai to a media frenzy. Others felt the rule only creates more uncertainty for fans around the movement of their favourite players.
Luai still has the option to back out of a potential deal with another club as well. Fans are now in limbo for 10 days on whether Luai remains a Panthers player, or joins a new club.
Jarome, once all paperwork is lodged to register his intent to sign, also has 10 days to pull out of Tigers offer. If he does do it would allow him to re-enter free agency. https://t.co/BsbUg92g8i
— Michael Chammas (@MichaelChammas) December 16, 2023
Another diabolically bad decision by the @NRL
— Johnathan Drama Esq (@jdrama68) December 16, 2023
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
I don't understand the purpose of the rule. His club has been negotiating with him for a long time, mostly exclusively. His agent could have still gone to Penrith and said, "tigers offered my client X dollars. Can you match it?" Creates ambiguity when fans want certainty #nrl https://t.co/0VYorGPOn4
— 24 Sep 1989 (@Raiders_24Sep89) December 16, 2023
It is bc of that 10-day period. He can’t sign anything till after.
He can give a club an indication that he will sign, but he can’t put pen to paper till the 10 days is over.
It’s such a stupid rule, bc now all signing will get leaked 10 days before they’re done— Ethan (@ethxn26) December 16, 2023
Wests Tigers interim CEO sings Jarome Luai praises
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.
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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