NRL 2024: Jarome Luai’s Wests Tigers starting position revealed

Jarome Luai’s Wests Tigers signing has created a massive halves puzzle for the two clubs. One certainty is the Penrith five-eighth’s starting position in 2025.

Penrith’s 2021 premiership winning squad.

Wests Tigers signings Jayden Sullivan and Latu Fainu will have a 12-month shootout in a bid to partner Jarome Luai in the halves in 2025.

While Penrith are left with questions to answer around not only their long-term halves combination, but the shape of their entire roster.

Luai’s announcement on Wednesday that he will join the Tigers and become one of the game’s highest-paid players will have massive ramifications for the two clubs.

Penrith will give Daine Laurie, who returns from the Tigers on a one-year deal, a crack at five-eighth this season. While Jack Cole, who is under contract until the end of 2026, has long been earmarked as a future first grader.

Cole spent last year switching between the halves and centre in NSW Cup, but with Luai’s impending exit he too will be given every opportunity to become halfback Nathan Cleary’s right-hand man.

Penrith’s 2021 premiership winning squad.

PANTHERS PRIORITIES

The Panthers had put off any contract talks with a host of off-contract players, including hooker Mitch Kenny and outside backs Sunia Turuva and Taylan May, as they waited to see if Luai would take up their upgraded three-year deal worth about $900,000 a season.

That will change this month when they formally speak with the trio about securing them on long-term deals.

But, still, they know rival clubs will be able to offer them more money.

The big decision revolves around how the Panthers want their post-Luai roster to look.

Do they stick with a cheaper, internal halves option and use that significant cap space to strengthen the rest of their squad?

Or do they dip into a near-barren open market?

Daine Laurie will get a shot at Penrith’s No.6 jersey. Picture: Justin Lloyd

Panthers prospect Jack Cole.

The player pool has diminished quickly. Tom Dearden would have been a perfect signing but he inked a new deal with North Queensland last month, before Luai had made his decision.

Sydney Roosters duo Joey Manu and Luke Keary won’t play against their current club, even if Manu is flirting with a short move to rugby.

Brad Schneider, 22, has also arrived at the club on a two-year deal after stints with Canberra and Hull KR.

TIGERS BACKBONE & HALVES LOGJAM

At Concord, the Tigers will have a 2025 spine capable of mixing it with any top-eight side. Luai is expected to wear the No.7 jersey, where he will reunite with Panthers premiership-winning hooker Apisai Koroisau and rising fullback star Jahream Bula.

Sullivan and Fainu are in the first months of their respective four-year deals worth a combined $1 million a season. They will have to impress Marshall, otherwise you would suggest that one of them would be moved on at the end of the year.

Teenager Lachlan Galvin adds to the Tigers’ halves logjam.

Tigers 18-year-old five-eighth Latu Fainu. Picture: NRL Photos

Pathways prodigy Lachlan Galvin.

The 18-year-old pathways program graduate and 2023 Australian Schoolboys five-eighth joins the club’s top-30 roster this season on a three-year deal.

The club have high hopes for him, despite suggestions he could be on the way out.

Galvin, whose 190cm frame is big enough to allow him to potentially shift into a ball-playing lock, won’t be given an early exit from his contract.

FREE AGENCY FALLOUT

Canterbury had given up hope of landing Luai, having not heard from his camp since Christmas. They found out about his decision to sign with the Tigers during Wednesday’s press conference.

Luai said he agonised over the decision, before turning down the chance to join former Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo, and former Panthers teammates Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau, Matt Burton and Jaeman Salmon at Canterbury.

“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 there already. Cam Ciraldo is like my second dad.

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

The Bulldogs still have some cash to splash in 2025, given their pursuit of Luai and their flirtation with Addin Fonua-Blake.

With Luai and Fonua-Blake (Cronulla) deciding their landing spots, Newcastle’s Bradman Best looms as the biggest name still without a long-term deal.

The NSW centre is yet to recommit to Newcastle’s offer of about $750,000 a season, which has been on the table for weeks as he eyes a richer deal.

St George Illawarra and the Dolphins remain keen on Cowboys duo Heilum Luki and Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.

But with Luai done the attention will shift to Best.