NRL market watch: Why Jarome Luai is the games next $1 million man
Penrith star Jarome Luai is only weeks away from entering the $1 million club – but he will need to leave the Panthers. And there’s no shortage of suitors, writes Brent Read.
Dragons
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The Bulldogs watched another star name walk out the door on Monday and the sense is that they are stashing their cash for something big. They don’t come much bigger at the moment than Jarome Luai and if the ‘Dogs have any ambitions to climb the ladder, they’ll keep their powder dry until November 1 and load up on the Penrith five-eighth.
Break the bank and bust out on the Panthers playmaker, who added to his stature with his performance against Melbourne on Friday night. Weeks removed from a dislocated shoulder he starred for the Panthers in their win over Melbourne, cutting down Marion Seve in the opening minutes and turning away everything thereafter.
Luai finished the Storm win 12 tackles and remarkably, no misses. He did it all with a dodgy shoulder. Bulldogs bosses Phil Gould and Cameron Ciraldo – who didn’t really put up a fight to keep English international Luke Thompson and his big salary – no doubt took note.
All three clubs are in dire need of what Luai has to offer. He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but he is a serial winner.
He summed it up himself on Friday night when this reporter asked him for his thoughts in response to claims that he could have suffered a cataclysmic injury by playing against the Storm.
“Tell the doctor I’m built different brother,” Luai responded.
He certainly is and he is now a million-dollar man, or at least he will be if he decides to test the open market when November 1 arrives. The only question is how far north of that will the offers go and whether he is willing to accept less – and significantly less at that – to stay at Penrith.
It is realistic to suggest Luai could be worth up to $1.2 million or more from rival clubs given the dearth of quality halves available and the size of the salary cap, which is now well north of $11 million.
The best of the best – Kalyn Ponga and Nathan Cleary – are now testing the $1.5 million barrier. It is hard to argue Luai isn’t in the same bracket after watching the way he bounced back from a shoulder problem to help Penrith into a fourth consecutive grand final.
The Panthers have apparently laid their cards in the table. They will struggle to offer more than $800,000 a season due to their tight salary cap which means over the course of five years, Luai could conceivably earn an extra $2 million if he departs at the end of next season.
He would be difficult to replace given the Panthers winning record soars north of 80 per cent when Luai plays. To put that in perspective, their winning rate with Nathan Cleary in the line-up is just on 70 per cent.
Luai has sensibly put contracts talks on hold until the grand final is out of the way. That will leave Penrith less than a month to convince him to stay or face a bidding war for his services.
Canterbury, the Tigers and the Dragons will be watching closely. There are other playmakers who become available on November 1, led by North Queensland’s Tom Dearden and the Sydney Roosters Luke Keary. Luai is in his prime and ready to cash in.
“He would be in the sights of most teams,” former Bulldogs captain James Graham said on Triple M’s Monday Scrum.
“Most teams at recruitment meetings would be having a chat – do we make a play for Jarome. He is so successful, he is so good. Whether you like him or you don’t, you have to love his mindset.
“He is not really phased by people’s opinions of him. The mindset to get back in time for last week’s game was absolutely phenomenal.
“I love that quote tell the doctor I am built differently. Wow – he is and he proved it.”
DOG GONE: THOMPSON HEADING BACK TO THE UK
Luke Thompson’s NRL career is over with the Bulldogs prop heading back to the Super League.
Thompson will return to England after signing a mega deal to join Wigan from 2024. It is understood the deal is for four years.
Thompson had hoped to extend his time in Australia but the offer from Wigan to return home proved too difficult to reject.
Thompson’s stint in Australia was marred by injury at suspension. He played just 42 games after arriving midway through 2020 on a huge deal which made him one of the highest paid props in the game.
Thompson had made his mark playing for St Helens in England but will instead join rivals Wigan.
MCGREGOR SET FOR SURPRISE NRL COACHING COMEBACK
Former St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor is on the verge of a surprise NRL coaching return with the ex-NSW centre set to link up with the Cowboys.
It is understood McGregor is in deep discussions to join North Queensland as part of Todd Payten’s new-look coaching staff next year.
McGregor will be joined by Warriors assistant Justin Morgan at North Queensland in 2024.
Payten will have a totally revamped coaching set-up next season with Dean Young and Steve Georgallis leaving their posts.
Young has returned to the Dragons where he will assist Shane Flanagan while Georgallis remains on the lookout for a new position.
McGregor has dipped his toe back into coaching since leaving St George Illawarra midway through 2020.
He worked in a part-time role with the Eels and was part of Brad Fittler’s coaching set-up at NSW this year.
The 55-year-old was also sounded out by Newcastle before Knights coach Adam O’Brien went on his winning run.
McGregor has long maintained his desire to return to head coaching and the North Queensland position would be his first full-time coaching role since exiting the Dragons.
At St George Illawarra he guided the Dragons to finals appearances in 2015 and 2018 during his seven year stint in charge.
McGregor headlines a list of recent movements on the assistant coaching front.
Cronulla premiership winning hooker Michael Ennis has joined Anthony Seibold’s coaching staff on a part-time basis to replace Flanagan at Manly.
Meanwhile, the Tigers parted ways with veteran assistant coach David Furner recently with the club promoting Chris Heighington to its coaching staff.
South Sydney were on the lookout to replace John Morris, who has joined the Tigers, and Warrington bound Sam Burgess. However, they are expected to give NSW Cup coach Joe O’Callaghan a crack working under Jason Demetriou.
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