Jarome Luai will be tasked with turning around the fortunes of the lowly Wests Tigers after reportedly agreeing to join the joint venture club on an eye-watering five-year deal.
It’s believed the three-time Premiership winner will leave Penrith at the end of 2024 to take up the deal, worth more than $6 million over five seasons.
There’s no official announcement at this stage but the news is set to end months of speculation around Luai’s future.
Penrith have 10 days to counter the offer once Luai officially informs the club he is departing. However, the Panthers won’t go anywhere near the money being offered by the desperate Tigers – meaning the 26-year-old is as good as gone.
Club officials had hoped that Luai’s close ties to the Penrith community, and his partnership with halfback Nathan Cleary, would be enough to keep him at the Panthers but it appears the challenge of turning the Tigers around and the huge pay packet that comes with it has been too difficult to turn down.
For Tigers fans it’s huge news at the end of a tumultuous week that saw the departures of CEO Justin Pascoe and Chairman Lee Hagipantelis.
Luai will chase a fourth straight Premiership ring in 2024 with Penrith.
The Panthers have been contacted for comment.
Troy Dodds is the Weekender’s Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.
