NRL Market Watch: Panthers to stand ground over any potential early Jarome Luai release

The Panthers are expected to resist any attempt by rivals to secure Jarome Luai 12 months ahead of schedule as the star five-eighth fields a “$1.4 million” offer.

Jarome Luai is a man in demand. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Penrith are expected to resist any attempt by rival clubs to secure Jarome Luai 12 months ahead of schedule as the superstar five-eighth prepares to spend the weekend mulling over a multimillion dollar offer from the Wests Tigers.

This masthead revealed on Wednesday that the Tigers were sizing up a four year deal for Luai worth more than $1 million a season, an outlay far beyond the capabilities of the premiers.

It is understood Luai was likely to be in possession of the Tigers official offer as early as Friday, giving him plenty to think about in coming days as he weighs up the biggest decision of his career.

Sources close to the talks insist that Luai wants the matter resolved before he is due to return to training on December 8, which means the clock is ticking for the NSW five-eighth as he decides whether to make a move at the end of the 2024 season.

The Bulldogs are also believed to be monitoring the situation and it is understood they have held initial talks with the Luai camp over what an offer would look like.

However, the Tigers have taken the early running in the Luai chase as they look to tempt him with not just money, but also the promise he will be given the keys to Concord regardless of whether he wears the No.6 or No.7 jersey.

Tigers coach Benji Marshall has taken a deeply personal interest in talks with Luai as he looks to land the first major signing of his tenure.

The Panthers are unlikely to release Jarome Luai early. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Securing Luai would show that the Tigers and Marshall mean business as they look to turn the club into contenders, although it is likely to cause some level of angst among the halves already at the club.

Luai remains on holidays but he has been an intermittent visitor to Penrith headquarters as he undergoes rehabilitation on the shoulder injury he had repaired at the end of last season.

The classy No.6 has an offer on the table from the Panthers but it is well short of what he can get on the open market – it has been reported the deal is worth about $850,000 a season, although this masthead understands the Penrith offer is actually less than that.

It means Luai would be turning his back on potentially more than $1 million to stay at Penrith over the course of four years, life-changing money for a footballer and his family.

It is understood the Panthers are yet to be notified of any offer from the Tigers, meaning they still have a fighting chance. Under the new rules governing contract talks, incumbent clubs are notified of offers from rival clubs when a player has indicated he is open to accepting any deal.

That day may be fast approaching and the Tigers and Bulldogs would likely explore the option of getting their hands on Luai ahead of schedule should he decide to join them.

Their attempts are likely to come up short – Penrith have shown little desire to entertain the concept of early releases, having held onto the likes of Viliame Kikau, Steve Crichton and Matt Burton after they signed with rival clubs nearly a year in advance.

In Burton’s case, the Bulldogs inquired about an early release and were turned away. The final decision is likely to rest with coach Ivan Cleary, whose pursuit of a fourth successive premiership is expected to hold sway even though allowing Luai to leave would clear vital salary cap space to retain the likes of Mitch Kenny, Sunia Turuva and Taylan May.

PANTHERS CAN’T COMPETE WITH ‘$1.4M OFFER’

—Peter Badel

Penrith boss Brian Fletcher says the money being offered to Jarome Luai is “ridiculous” and he’s heard that one rival club is prepared to make the Panthers five-eighth the equal highest paid player in the NRL.

The call comes as Fletcher also outlined plans to secure Nathan Cleary to a lifetime deal to avoid the Penrith scrumbase being completely torn apart.

Fletcher suspects one NRL rival has offered Luai up to $1.4 million a season – which would equal Newcastle Dally M superstar Kalyn Ponga’s current salary as the biggest deal in NRL history.

The Luai-Cleary alliance has piloted the Panthers to four consecutive grand finals and three premierships, but Fletcher concedes the champions face a huge fight to keep the Samoan Test ace.

While Penrith’s two-year extension is worth around $850,000 a season, Luai could pocket an extra $1.5 million to $2m if he signed a more lucrative five-year deal with an NRL rival.

Fletcher revealed the true extent of Penrith’s desperate battle to keep Cleary’s scrumbase partner-in-crime.

Jarome Luai is a man in demand. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“I’ve heard Jarome has had offers of up to $1.4 million,” he said.

“Whether that’s right or wrong, I can’t tell you, but it’s a lot of money and if he chooses to take that sort of money, you can’t be crook on the bloke.

“He’s playing with us next year, but with the money he is being offered, it makes it difficult for us.

“The money that Jarome is being offered by the Tigers and some other clubs is ridiculous. We can’t compete with that.

“Look, if Jarome can get massive money like we’re hearing, well we’re happy for him and we wish him all the best.

“Obviously our preference is for Jarome to stay. We’d love him to be here, but if he decides to go, it’s not a terrible thing for us.

“Our offer has been made and we can’t budge on that. He has to weigh up the balance between money and success.

“I can understand if Jarome wants to do the best in life and earn the money now that he can. If he gets all that extra money, he will have our blessing to go, but we’d love for Jarome to sign a new deal with us.

“It’s really up to him and his management to decide what’s best for him.

“Either way, whatever decision he makes, Jarome is a lucky boy.”

The Panthers are keen to keep halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai together – but not at any price. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Meanwhile, Fletcher believes Cleary can play NRL until the age of 40 and declared he will be a Panther for life, claiming fans will “kill us” if the champion halfback is ever lost to the three-time premiers.

Cleary is signed until the end of 2027 but the Panthers are determined to take the talismanic playmaker off the open market for the long haul as they wage an uphill battle to keep his scrumbase cohort Luai.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has met with the off-contract Luai and it is understood Cleary’s halves partner faces a massive financial sacrifice to remain at the foot of the mountains beyond next season.

Cleary is on $1.3 million a season and the potential loss of Luai would give Penrith the fiscal strength under the salary cap to ensure the NSW Origin maestro stays at the Panthers for 2030 and beyond.

“There’s no way we will lose Nathan Cleary,” Fletcher said.

“We will keep him here for life and hopefully the same goes for Ivan (Cleary, Panthers coach).

“Nathan and his father are here until 2027 and there’s plenty of time for us to extend them.

“We’d love to have Nathan here for even longer.

“To be honest, Nathan could play till he’s 40 he is that good.

“With the way the modern game is with training methods and sports science, I believe he could get to 40.

“The fans would kill us if we let Nathan Cleary go – it won’t be happening on my watch.”

Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Panthers to stand ground over any potential early Jarome Luai release