Off-contract Panthers star Jarome Luai has again been linked to the embattled Wests Tigers – and his friendship with skipper Api Koroisau could prove to be decisive.
Luai, 26, has been free to negotiate with rival NRL clubs since November 1, with his contract at Penrith ending in 2024.
The premiers have told the five-eighth they can only pay him roughly $850,000 a season to stay due to salary cap restraints, which is considerably less than he will command elsewhere.
A popular school of thought is that the polarising pivot may seek a new challenge after winning three successive titles – so jumping ship to play under Benji Marshall is said to be appealing.
And as long as he stays at the foot of the Blue Mountains in NSW, Luai will always play second fiddle to halfback Nathan Cleary.
The NSW Origin representative is close mates with Koroisau after they won two NRL competitions together in 2021 and 2022 – and it is safe to say the crafty hooker would have been in Luai’s ear pushing for an on-field reunion.
Luai also grew up idolising Marshall, so if he ends up at Concord, he could thrive due to his instinctive style of footy.
‘All players that come into the market, you’ve got to have a look at, especially if they are marquee players [like Luai],’ Marshall said recently, as rumours continue to swirl in the off-season.
Luai may also consider a move to the Bulldogs, where he could be reunited with plenty of familiar faces, notably coach Cameron Ciraldo, close friend Stephen Crichton plus former teammates Viliame Kikau and Matt Burton.
The Samoan international is said to be ‘off’ coach Ivan Cleary after he recently suggested it would be a risky move for a rival NRL club to hand Luai playmaking responsibilities.
Luai responded on social media by posting an anime-style image of himself on Instagram with the caption ‘know your worth.’
The post was accompanied by the 50 Cent song ‘Hustler’s Ambition’ from the film ‘Get Rich Or Die Tryin’.