Wests Tigers have announced the signing of star five-eighth Jarome Luai on a five-year deal.
The three-time premiership-winning playmaker will join the club from Penrith at the end of the 2024 season.
Luai has played 107 games for the Panthers over six seasons, making his NRL debut in 2018. .
The 26-year-old has helped Penrith to three consecutive grand final triumphs over the past three years, during which time he played seven State of Origin games for New South Wales and 11 Tests for Samoa (2017-22).
Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall believes the addition of Luai will be great for the club.
We are super excited to announce the signing of Jarome for the 2025 season on a five-year deal,” said Marshall.
“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.
We very much look forward to welcoming Jarome and his family to our club in 2025, but right now, season 2024 is our focus.”
The Panthers, meanwhile, released a statement on Wednesday saying that although they were disappointed to lose Luai they respected his decision.
“We acknowledge that the situation is compounded by salary cap capacity due to the club’s recent success,” Panthers Rugby League CEO Matt Cameron said.
“As the club has shown in previous years, despite agreeing to terms with another NRL club for future seasons, we look forward to Jarome remaining at the Panthers for the 2024 season as we prepare not only for the World Club Challenge against Wigan Warriors, but also another premiership defence.”
Luai informed the Panthers of his decision to accept a long-term deal with another club before Christmas and his departure was confirmed after the club waived the NRL’s new 10-day cooling off period for contracting.
Interim Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson had previously tried to recruit Luai to South Sydney and made it clear at a press conference upon his arrival that the Penrith and NSW Origin representative would be the club’s No.1 target.
