Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary has broken his silence on Jarome Luai’s exit, revealing: “I never could have pictured him in another jersey.”
The Penrith, NSW and Australia playmaker said he was determined to win a fourth and final premiership with Luai before the No.6 joined the Wests Tigers on a five-year, $6 million deal from 2025.
Cleary, 26, said he was ready to nurture Luai’s eventual No.6 successor, which could be youngster Jack Cole.
Cleary learnt of Luai’s exit at the same time as his teammates on a steamy Saturday at training before Christmas.
He knew Penrith would struggle to match the huge money tabled by the Tigers and Canterbury but had been hopeful Luai would stay put so they could continue the halves combination they started more than a decade ago.
“I’ve played alongside ‘Romy’ my whole Penrith career, since we were 15 years old, which makes it even tougher knowing he’s leaving,” Cleary said.
“It’s sad. It’s also a business, and he needs to look after his beautiful young family.
“He had so many people in his ear asking him what he was going to do, so I didn’t want to be that guy asking what was going on.
“He’s also at that stage of his career where he can make decisions for himself.
“We all found out at the same time that he was leaving.
“I never could have pictured Romy in another jersey. Now he’s secured his future, we can focus on this year and try to make it special.
Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai celebrate victory in last year’s grand final, their third straight premiership win together.Credit: NRL Photos
“It’s a fair squad we’ve lost over the years now. I’ve played the longest with Romy, we’re in the halves together, so that makes it tougher. He really represents what we’re about as a team, and he’s from the area.
“The more players leave, the more you become accustomed to it happening.
“It’s my last ride with him.”
Coach Ivan Cleary said in October clubs could be taking a “risk” throwing big money at Luai, who was yet to prove that he could lead a team around the park as a halfback.
When Luai signed with the Tigers, he said he had no issues with the coach’s comments, and nor did Nathan.
Nathan Cleary and Jarome Laui have had many great moments together at the foot of the mountains.Credit: Getty
“Romy is someone driven by a challenge, and I think a big part of him wanting to go to the Tigers was that challenge,” Cleary said.
“He was able to set his family up financially, but there was that challenge he has not had before.
“If you look at the Tigers, they have a lot of world-class players: Api [Koroisau] is there, Benji [Marshall] is the coach. They’re in a good position to do well.
“Like Romy, I was also a Benji fan as well. He was an absolute freak as a player, and people were jealous of what he could do. I’ve met him a few times. He’s a legend of a bloke.”
Luai underwent shoulder surgery after the NRL grand final and is aiming for a return in round one. His absence from the bulk of field sessions has given Penrith a snapshot of what life might look like without him in the halves.
Cleary said it was only now that he felt comfortable with his own standing in the game to be ready to help bring through the next No.6.
“I feel I’m at the age and the stage of my career where I’m ready to actually help a young guy and build a combination,” Cleary said.
“It would have been hard to do if you had two young halves like Romy and I were when we were coming through.
“With Romy leaving, it’s a challenge for me trying to lift the boys around me and in a short amount of time.
“Because Romy and I know each other’s game, it’s become quite comfortable for us. We’re yin and yang but always in sync.
“But I’ll have to go to another level in terms of leadership and helping the young guys out.”
Cleary produced one of the great grand final performances when he inspired an unthinkable comeback when the Panthers trailed Brisbane 24-8 with 17 minutes remaining.
Adding to the folklore was that he suffered a grade-three PCL tear in his knee that would have ruled him out for up to six weeks during the regular season and also ended his chance to represent Australia in the end-of-season Pacific Championships.
This masthead revealed during the week that the Panthers would train out of English Premier League champions Manchester City’s state-of-the-art $380m complex before next month’s World Club Challenge.
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