‘Toughest decision of my career and life’: Jarome Luai signs five-year deal with the Wests Tigers

Jarome Luai grew up with a Wests Tigers towel that he never let his mum wash. That connection is partly why he will join them next year.

Jarome Luai could have stayed at the Panthers and won more premierships, but a desire to be his own man and work with Benji Marshall was too good to ignore. Picture: NRL Photos

It’s been nearly 14 years since NBA superstar LeBron James held a television special called The Decision to reveal he was joining the Miami Heat.

While it wasn’t quite as glamorous, there was a sense of similarity as Jarome Luai announced he was taking his talents to the Wests Tigers, where he’s hoping to win “five rings” after signing a five-year deal worth a reported $6m.

The Panthers five-eighth has won three premierships in a row but will head to a team next year that has won the past two wooden spoons, which is one of the reasons he described it as the “toughest decision of my career and life”.

Luai’s decision comes after months of speculation as to where he would end up, with the Panthers and Bulldogs in the mix to sign him, while his manager revealed on Wednesday that other clubs had been interested.

Money was obviously a motivating factor for the 26-year-old, who has three children and got engaged last week, but a chance to work with Tigers coach Benji Marshall was too good to ignore given the Kiwis star was his idol growing up from the moment he dazzled the crowd with a stunning play in the 2005 decider.

Jarome Luai has idolised Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall for nearly 20 years. Picture: NRL Photos

“The obvious reason was that it was a great opportunity to provide for my family but also to create something for myself,” Luai said.

“I’ve had a great connection with Benji and we spoke about the future and what he sees in me moving forward.

“My first game of rugby league was that grand final.

“I was on a camping trip with my family and I got to see him do his thing out there and that inspired me.

“Ever since that point, I’ve had one Tigers towel and I wouldn’t let my mum wash it.

“I’ve always been a big fan of Benji and the way that he holds himself. I got the opportunity to chuck the boots on with him in the Maori camp and I actually got to room with him which was pretty cool.”

Signing Luai could be the turning point for a club that’s been starved of success, with the Tigers last making the finals back in 2011.

Marshall was one of the main reasons why Luai joined the Tigers.

“We are super excited to announce the signing of Jarome for the 2025 season on a five-year deal,” Marshall said.

“His experience as a genuine premiership-winning playmaker will be great for us and the future of our club.

“We love the way Jarome plays his footy and even better, he is a great person.

“We very much look forward to welcoming Jarome and his family to our club in 2025, but right now, season 2024 is our focus.”

For Luai, he now has the chance to be the chief playmaker after playing his entire career alongside champion halfback Nathan Cleary.

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary questioned whether Luai could handle that role when asked about it last year, although he showed he’s more than capable after taking Samoa to the 2021 World Cup final.

Luai had no issue with Ivan Cleary’s comments from last year. Picture: NRL Photos

“He wasn’t lying,” Luai said, confirming he’s fully committed to helping Penrith win a fourth title.

“At the end of the day, it is a risk to pay someone any amount of money.

“I’ve got full belief in what I can do and what I can bring. That all comes off the back of hard work.

“It did shock me a bit, but he wasn’t lying.

“(I didn’t have to clear the air) but I just had to think about it. At the end of the day, he was right because I haven’t proven it on the biggest stage yet. That’s what I want to prove to myself.”

There will be intense scrutiny on how Luai performs next year given he’s left the best team of the modern era to join a club at that bottom, but that’s only going to fuel the fiery five-eighth who loves to prove his haters wrong.

“I’ve seen a few of the headlines asking ‘who would go from the top to the bottom?’ and that resonated with me because I’m always backing myself to win, no matter where I go,” he declared.

“It is motivating because anyone who says anything ill about me is motivating.

“I’ve always had that edge and that chip on my shoulder to prove people wrong, but this one was more so to prove it to myself.”

Great mates Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o and Luai will all be at different clubs in 2025 after winning three titles together at Penrith. Picture: NRL Photos

Luai will return to Panthers training on Thursday, although he won’t take part given he’s still in the rehab group.

It comes just weeks after he took a couple of days off due to a “misunderstanding” having already told his teammates last month that he’d be leaving.

He didn’t know at the time where he’d go, with Luai using Wednesday’s press conference as a way to officially tell the Bulldogs they’d missed out, which hurt him greatly given he’s got strong links to the club, including coach Cameron Ciraldo and best friend Stephen Crichton, who left Penrith to join them this season.

“I think this is why the process dragged on for quite a while because that was a tough question,” he said.

“I’ve got a lot of brothers over there already and Ciraldo’s like my second dad, so that was pretty tough to turn that away and walk this path alone and face this new challenge.”