‘It’s a public circus’: Jarome Luai goes rogue with big call

Jarome Luai has scheduled his own press conference just hours after a huge twist in his contract saga came to light.

Jarome Luai. Picture: Jonathan Ng.

Jarome Luai has scheduled his own press conference for Wednesday afternoon.

The Panthers star will reportedly confirm widespread reports he has agreed to a whopper five-year, $6 million deal that blew all rival offers out of the water.

The saga surrounding his exit from Penrith took an ugly turn last month when reports emerged of tension between the player and club surrounding his absence from training.

It is huge news for the Tigers — and coach Benji Marshall, who has finally landed the big fish recruit the club has desperately chased.

Luai remains committed to the Panthers for the 2024 NRL season before he makes the jump to the Tigers.

The press conference comes after it emerged Penrith had waived its right of reply to launch one final campaign to hold onto him through the controversial 10-day cooling off period.

Jarome Luai is expected to confirm his switch to the Wests Tigers.

Luai’s messy exit from Penrith has been made even more awkward because of the twists that have come to light during the cooling off period.

The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis on Wednesday teed off on the so-called cooling off period, describing it’s introduction under the new CBA as “dumb”.

He went on to say: “It’s a bit of a joke this cooling off period for multiple reasons. For one, you don’t have to take the offer on the table. You can enter the 10-day cooling off period and still not take the offer from that rival club.”

He said the 10-day cooling off period only serves as another negotiating tool for player agents.

“It’s just a circus. It’s a public circus,” he said.

Jarome Luai and Ivan Cleary celebrate victory. Picture: NRL Photos.

The Tigers won’t care if it all falls into place this week.

Only last month Tigers legend Steve Roach raised doubts that Luai would in fact make the move and suggested he would be making a mistake if he did

“Why would you go from the team winning the premiership to the wooden spooners, I don’t get it,” he told foxsports.com.au.

“You’ll get cash down the track if you’re a one-team player, it doesn’t matter, you’ll make more that way.

“I’d like him to come, he’s a good player, but I have my doubts.”

The Bulldogs were the only other team in the hunt for Luai’s signature but it is understood their offer was about $750,000 less than that of the Tigers.

Originally published as ‘It’s a public circus’: Jarome Luai goes rogue with big call