NRL 2024: Will Jarome Luai’s Penrith Panthers exit see the end of the tightest bond in the NRL?

Jarome Luai is the latest big name to announce they are leaving the Panthers, following his ‘brothers’ Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu out the door. Is this the end of the NRL’s tightest bond?

The stars of the Penrith rugby league team may be going their separate ways but there’s no breaking up the Brotherhood of the Panthers.

They earned fame and fortune playing rugby league but as they gradually drift apart on the field, the bond off it will never be broken.

This week Jarome Luai became the latest favourite son of Penrith to announce he would quit the three time premiers to be one of the highest paid players in the NRL after signing a $1.2 million a season contract with Wests Tigers that starts in 2025.

That will be almost double what he will earn in his final year at Penrith.

Luai had seen his “brothers” Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau and Spencer Leniu leave in recent seasons. Now it is his turn. Of the big names in the brotherhood, the TikTok-ing winger Brian To’o remains. For now.

With Stephen Crichton gone and Jarome Luai leaving at the end of 2024, is the Panthers brotherhood coming to an end? Picture: NRL Photos

Along the way they’ve helped buy property and cars for their families and become an inspiration to those ‘in the area’.

Luai admitted his big-money switch was as much about setting up his young family – he has three kids and became engaged to partner Bailey Paris Toleafoa on Christmas Day – as it was challenging himself on the field.

“It’s just something that’s important to me because, for a long time now, my goal has been to make sure my family, my younger brothers and sisters, are set up for life,” Luai said.

Luai recently announced his engagement to long-time partner Bailey Paris Toleafoa. Picture: Instagram

Former teammate Josh Mansour – who was also squeezed out of his beloved Penrith before finishing his career at South Sydney – said while the players may now be spread across Sydney there is little doubt how close they will remain.

“They grew up in humble beginnings, and the connection they all have goes a lot deeper than just footy,” the former NSW and Kangaroos flyer said. “All the boys are super happy and proud of each other’s success, which will bring them even closer together.

“No matter what they are always together, they spend time with each other’s families, barbecues, dinners hanging out at each other’s houses, it’s a lot more than just teammates.”

Luai admitted in the press conference that his move to the Tigers was about setting up his family and challenging himself on the field. Picture: Richard Dobson

The NRL’s salary cap has meant the Panthers – given their unprecedented success – are unable to match the rich deals on offer by rivals. Crichton and Kikau are now at Canterbury, Leniu has joined the Roosters while Luai has a season left before he becomes a Tiger.

Luai said he spent weeks agonising if he should follow his friends to the Bulldogs.

“This is why the process has dragged on for quite a while,“ Luai said. “That was a tough decision. I’ve got a lot of brothers (at Canterbury) already.

“It was pretty tough to turn that away and walk this path alone and face this new challenge.“

Headlines good and bad have followed Luai in recent years. Luai delivered his now infamous best man speech at teammate Brian To’o’s wedding in 2022. The pair have just started a new clothing brand Universe 7 which is expected to be based on their love for Japanese anime.

To’o knows their story can motivate Western Sydney.

It could take Nathan Cleary some time to adjust without his sidekick in Luai. Picture: NRL Images

“All us boys, we’re on this journey together,” To’o has said. “All of us going places nobody thought we could. And I’m proud of that. Proud to tell people that, yes, I’m from Mount Druitt, from Struggle Street … and I made it.”

Crichton, Luai and Leniu are all graduates of Patrician Brothers’ College Blacktown before risking through the ranks at Penrith and going on to represent Samoa at the World Cup final in 2022. To’o was also a key part of Samoan’s international revival.

Schoolboy coach Greg Beacroft said despite Luai being three years older than Crichton and Leniu the trio were inseparable.

“They were all so tightly bonded” Beacroft said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Brian went to Rooty Hill High School but always told people he went to (Patrician Brothers) just so he could be closer with the guys.”

Halfback Nathan Cleary will remain as a pillar of the Panthers line-up for years to come. But even he will take some time to adjust without his sidekick in Luai.

Luai and Nathan Cleary spent all their time playing alongside each other at the Panthers’ lower grades where Luai was the star.

Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary in the Penrith Harold Matts team.

More than half of their 2021 premiership winning team will be gone by next year. Mansour said that was a reality of Penrith’s success.

“It’s really hard, but that’s the way the game is structured, the best players can’t all stay in the same place,” Mansour said. “I struggled with it. I was at the club for nine years and didn’t think I would leave. The best thing about Penrith is they are team based, they don’t rely on individuals to get the job done.

“When one player leaves another one is ready to step up and do the job, that is why they are successful and will continue to be.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Will Jarome Luai’s Penrith Panthers exit see the end of the tightest bond in the NRL?