Wests Tigers boss Shane Richardson reveals Jarome Luai will be the face of the club
The man who oversaw the arrival of superstar Greg Inglis at South Sydney says Jarome Luai’s impending arrival to Wests Tigers is just as significant.
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Wests Tigers boss Shane Richardson has labelled Jarome Luai’s signing as “Greg Inglis” like as the Tigers celebrate the impending arrival of the three-time premiership winner.
Richardson also said Luai would become the face of the club at the Tigers.
Luai committed to a five-year deal worth about $6 million on Wednesday announcing he would leave the Panthers at the end of 2024.
Richardson oversaw a host of key signings during South Sydney’s revival – most notably Inglis joining the Rabbitohs from Melbourne in 2011 and Roy Asotasi from Canterbury in 2007.
Like Luai, Asotasi went from a title contending team to a lowly ranked side while Inglis’ signing helped turn South Sydney into a premiership threat.
“Roy was a major part of the statement of the rebuilding of Souths,” Richardson told SEN Breakfast. “He came on board in a similar situation to what Jarome has.
“The better example is when we landed Greg Inglis. We were on the cusp when we landed Greg Inglis. The statement he made going to us instead Brisbane was massive for where we were as a club. From then on we never looked back.”
Richardson said the deal to sign Luai was only signed off on Tuesday night and he was unaware of Luai’s planned press conference until Wednesday morning.
“Every team need requires a play a playmaker that makes a difference in the game,” Richardson said. “They are few and far between. Very occasionally do they come up especially with a track record of winning three premierships. I’ve followed him since he 16/17 and he has always been a leader…he is a game changer for us.
“He will be the face of our club. You couldn’t have a better person. It’s not just on the field but off the field. We can’t wait to work with him.”
Luai’s impending arrival will create a log-jam in the halves. Jayden Sullivan and Latu Fainu are only months into their new four year deals at the Tigers but the pair will battle for the right to partner Luai in 2025.
“You can never have enough good quality halves,” Richardson said. “We have an array of talent in the halves that every other club would be envious of. Latu and (Lachlan) Galvin will be superstars. To have those two players locked in long-term is nothing but a positive. Surrounding them is Sullivan. We are in a strong position to have a spine that’s as good as any spine in the competition. To have Api (Koroisau) there as an outstanding hooker. (Then we have) Luai and great young halves fighting it out for the five-eighth spot and probably the best young fullback in the game (in Jahream Bula). You couldn’t be in a better spot than we are.”
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