Jarome Luai drops shock Wests Tigers call after fourth NRL title

Four-time champion Jarome Luai had a blunt reply when asked about his looming move to the Wests Tigers for the 2025 season.

Jarome Luai has pulled the curtain down on his career with the Penrith Panthers with yet another NRL premiership ring.

Back in January, the 27-year-old Luai announced his move to the Wests Tigers for the 2025 season on a five-year, $6 million deal.

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It meant his and the Panthers’ pursuit of a staggering fourth straight NRL title would be a year-long swansong for the long-haired five-eighth.

A junior from the Penrith area, Luai has spent his entire seven-year, 131-game NRL career with the Panthers, so a shift to the Tigers’ colours is a massive move.

Interviewed on the Accor Stadium turf after Penrith’s 14-6 win over the Storm, Luai knew he couldn’t have scripted a better ending.

“It’s not me, it’s all my brothers here,” he told Channel 9. “Left on a good note bro, I left on a good note.”

Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary embrace after the siren. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Asked if the club was driven by a history-making fourth consecutive title, Luai said: “That s**t doesn’t matter at the moment man.

“We’re soaking up this moment. Just to win one grand final is so special.

“No one works harder than these boys and we got what we deserved tonight.”

Luai was mobbed by his teammates more than once as he tried to conduct the interview with Brad Fittler.

Asked if this fourth title felt different, Luai replied: “Yeah, no one’s going to do this again.

“I can’t put it into words, ask me in a weeks’ time.

“I just want to soak up all the emotion and embrace my brothers right now.”

How many titles have you won Jarome? (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Jarome Luai poses with the Provan-Summons Trophy. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Fittler then pushed Luai a little further and asked if his move across to Leichhardt Oval had been a motivating factor in his efforts this season.

Players often bat back questions about clubs they are joining, preferring to focus on the moment and their current club.

They can even show a little regret at times, which would be understandable considering Luai is going from one of the great teams of all time to a Tigers club coming off three consecutive wooden spoons.

Rather than any of that, Luai embraced the question and said knowing he was moving had been a driving force behind his performances in 2024.

“Massive. It’s been good for me,” he said. “It’s kept me going every day, even the days I didn’t want to show up.

“It’s kept me accountable, hopefully it’s made the boys better as well.

“We did it.”

Allan Langer and Kevin Walters are one of the best halves pairings ever. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Luai is joining Benji Marshall and the Wests Tigers in 2025. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Nathan Cleary, who has been alongside Luai at halfback for each of their four grand final victories, was also asked about his departing five-eighth.

“Just (wanted to) send him out the right way,” Cleary said. “He deserves that.

“He’s been such a big part of this team and he showed that again tonight, he was on fire.

“We’re going to miss him a lot, but right now I just want to party alongside him and enjoy it.”

Speaking in commentary, legendary halfback Andrew Johns then dropped a huge call about the Panthers’ playmakers.

“We spoke about it before the game, Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai, the greatest halves combination the game has seen,” Johns said.

“Look at the record.”

Cleary and Luai’s fourth straight title equals the mark of Allan Langer and Kevin Walters during their time with the Brisbane Broncos.

The Queensland outfit, however, “only” won two in a row on two occasions, well short of the four straight this Panthers team has achieved.

Originally published as Jarome Luai drops shock Wests Tigers call after fourth NRL title