Penrith plan to build their club around Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai

PENRITH are planning to build their future around young halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai with the latter poised to sign a long-term deal with the club.

Jarome Luai of the Panthers celebrates after scoring a try during the Round 17 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the Warriors at Panthers Stadium in Sydney, Friday, July 6, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

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PENRITH fans, welcome to the future.

Desperate to ward off circling rivals, the Panthers are poised to open contract negotiations which would keep rising star Jarome Luai at the club for up to five seasons.

His likely retention would reunite Luai and halfback Nathan Cleary long-term at Penrith’s scrumbase after they came through the Panthers juniors together.

Penrith Group CEO Brian Fletcher said the pair could become “superstars” together.

Luai, 21, is being groomed to take over from five-eighth James Maloney when the NSW State of Origin star’s contract expires in two years.

That would bring Cleary, 20, and Luai together in the halves in 2021 at ages 22 and 23 respectively.

Luai showed flashes of brilliance in his four NRL games this year. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.

Fletcher described Luai as a “priority” signing. He is off contract after next season but Penrith want him nailed down to stop other NRL clubs trying to lure him away.

The Daily Telegraph understands new coach Ivan Cleary has an enormous opinion of Luai after watching the young gun come through the Panthers system with his son Nathan.

Ivan and Panthers general manager Phil Gould have been working hard to shore up the club’s future and Luai is certainly part of those plans.

While no formal offer has been lodged, Penrith would look to sign Luai to a three- or four-year deal.

“Our main focus is signing Jarome,” Fletcher said. “He came through the lower grades with Nathan. They complement each other.

Luai is expected to re-sign with the Panthers. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

“You could have a halfback, five-eighth combination. They could be superstars, couldn’t they?

“Jarome would be the ideal replacement when Jimmy moves on. It’s being discussed at meetings that he is a priority.

“I think the new coach would like to lock Jarome down for as long as he could.

“When they were coming through the lower grades, Jarome was ahead of Nathan as far as ability went. Jarome just didn’t develop physically as quickly as Nathan did.

“Nathan then got ahead of him but Jarome is an outstanding talent. I know the new coach is very keen to keep him.

“Ivan has his eyes all over him. Gus and Ivan are having talks.

“I’d say they will be sitting down in the next few weeks and talking to Jarome’s manager about extending long-term.

“Jarome and Nathan played all their junior football together. They know each other’s game. It’s just the ideal fit.”

Luai and Cleary played much of their junior footy together. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

Luai made his debut this year against Newcastle in May and scored two tries in his four NRL appearances.

Ligament damage ended his season in July but he should be fit to start next season.

Luai can now negotiate with rival clubs, but Fletcher said: “We won’t let him get to that stage.”

Panthers forward James Fisher-Harris has been described as another “priority” signing for the club.

Penrith are also working on a deal to allow forward Trent Merrin to sign with Leeds in the UK Super League.

His future should be decided in the next few days.

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