NRL Market Watch: Penrith Panthers meet with Jarome Luai ahead of November 1 deadline
Penrith have given Jarome Luai their blessing to go to market, but they won’t let their star five-eighth leave without a fight and have come out swinging ahead of the November 1 deadline.
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Penrith reiterated their desire to keep star five-eighth Jarome Luai at a meeting on Friday afternoon where they also told him they had no issue with him investigating his options on the open market as he weighs up whether to chase the big money on November 1.
Luai is off contract at the end of next season and it is understood the Panthers told the Samoan international at Friday’s meeting that they are limited in what they can offer him – it is believed their offer will be capped at $800,000 a season.
Luai could command significantly more than that on the open market – there have been suggestions that some clubs would be willing to pay him as much as $1.1 million a season.
The Panthers won’t be able to match that but they made it clear to Luai on Friday how valued he is at the club and how much they want him to stay.
“The club has met with Jarome,” Penrith chief executive Matt Cameron said.
“Jarome is aware of the club’s salary cap capacity moving forward. He’s having surgery on Monday so our main focus at the moment is his wellbeing and recovery.
“Jarome is contracted until the end of 2024 so we don’t see a need to rush these conversations. Jarome is a three-time premiership player who will obviously command interest on the open market and the Panthers have no problem with him investigating all his options moving forward.”
The twist in Luai’s future is his management situation. Luai is between managers and is expected to finalise a new agreement over the weekend – the smart money is on Black Money, who count the likes of Jack Wighton, Bradman Best, Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker among their clientele.
NOV 1 COUP: SOUTHS STAR SET TO SIGN MEGA-EXTENSION
—David Riccio and Brent Read
South Sydney forward Keaon Koloamatangi is set to sign a mega-extension with the Rabbitohs after a breakthrough in negotiations only weeks before the powerhouse back rower was due to hit the open market.
In a decision that will have a major ripple effect on the NRL transfer market in the lead-up to November 1, the Rabbitohs held further talks with Koloamatangi’s representatives this week and this masthead understands they have done enough to keep him at the club for at last another three years.
It means Koloamatangi will remain a Rabbitoh until at least the end of 2027. It also ensures he will remain out of the clutches of the Dragons, Raiders and Wests Tiger, who were all eager to open negotiations with Koloamatangi at the start of November.
Talks between Koloamatangi and the Rabbitohs intensified in recent days as the club looked to finalise a prior to his departure for the UK, where he will represent Tonga in a three-match international series against England.
The signature of Koloamatangi would be another major signing for head coach Jason Demetriou, who has managed to retain the likes of stars Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Jai Arrow and Campbell Graham, while also adding the high-profile recruit of Jack Wighton in 2024.
Koloamatangi has played 82 NRL games for the Rabbitohs since making his debut in 2020.
He has gone on to become one of the elite forwards in the game – he made his State of Origin debut earlier this year – and recently revealed his preference was to remain at Souths.
“I obviously haven’t spoken to anyone, at this stage I’m not allowed to speak to anyone until November 1,” he said.
“Hopefully we can sort something out with the Rabbitohs, but if not, it is what it is. We’ll see how things go when I’m back.”
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Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Penrith Panthers meet with Jarome Luai ahead of November 1 deadline
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