Panthers shock offer to Jarome Luai as cap squeeze set to spark bidding war

Injured Panthers star Jarome Luai is facing an increasingly difficult choice about his NRL future as the salary cap squeeze hits hard.

Jarome Luai of the Panthers runs the ball during the round 23 NRL match between Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm at BlueBet Stadium on August 04, 2023 in Penrith, Australia. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

The Penrith Panthers have reportedly informed Jarome Luai they will not be able to offer him more than $800,000 a season as salary cap pressure hits the club.

Luai, who comes off contract at the end of the 2024 season, is able to negotiate with other clubs from November 1.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald the Panthers have offered Luai somewhere between $700,000-$800,000 a season. They have also told him there is no room to move on that figure, although an official offer is yet to be tabled

He is certain to attract richer offers from other clubs.

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The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio said at the end of July that Luai’s poor Origin series means he may cost himself money in his next contract.

“Well, he wasn’t able to get the job done and I think he sits in that $650,000 - $700,000,” Riccio said on the July 26 episode of NRL 360.

Jarome Luai will have to miss out on big money to stay in Penrith. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

Veteran journalist Paul Crawley Luai “fit like a glove” at Penrith and may have to decide whether to prioritise success over earning big money at a struggling club.

The Panthers have already re-signed fullback Dylan Edwards ($850,000 a season), Liam Martin ($750,000) and Isaah Yeo ($850,000) to new deals this season.

That is in addition to the likes of Nathan Cleary and James Fisher-Harris already collecting nearly $2.3 million a year between them.

There would be no shortage of rival clubs who make a play for Luai if he chooses to test the open market.

The Dragons need a five-eighth and Luai’s signing at the Red V may increase the likelihood Ben Hunt remains at the club through to the end of his 2025 contract.

Canberra have plenty of cap space after the departure of Jack Wighton and need a playmaker outside of Jamal Fogarty, while the Tigers will be keen to make a splash and have the means to do so.

The Bulldogs is another club who could show interest in Luai, with ex-Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo at the helm.

Read on for the latest NRL Transfer Whispers.

MANLY’S CLEANOUT REVEALED

Five Manly Sea Eagles players have reportedly been informed they are free to look elsewhere for next season.

That is according to News Corp, who revealed Ben Condon, Kaeo Weekes, Zac Fulton, Kelma Tuilagi and Karl Lawton will be released immediately if they can find a better opportunity at another club.

Weekes’ contract with Manly was already coming to an end this season so he will not be offered a new deal but Fulton and Lawton are signed until the end of 2024, while Condon and Tuilagi are contracted until the end of 2025.

Condon and Tuilagi only arrived to the club this season from the Cowboys and Tigers respectively. Condon played four games off the bench for Manly, while Tuilagi — who started the year in the second row but finished it in reserve grade — played 17.

Lawton played 10 games in what was another season hampered by injury and Fulton hasn’t been sighted in first grade since his debut last season.

Kelma Tuilagi is free to go. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Weekes secured a bench utility role at the start of the season but by Round 10 was dropped from 17 and got limited opportunities after that. The 21-year-old is a fullback/five-eighth but with Tom Trbojevic due back from a pec injury next season and Luke Brooks arriving, he won’t break into the side. He’s also fallen behind Reuben Garrick and Tolu Koula as a back-up No.1 and Jake Arthur as a playmaker.

There were reports earlier this season that Weekes had re-signed but the club never announced a deal.

The contracted players are reportedly not being forced out the door and if they can’t secure a new deal elsewhere they will be expected at day one of pre-season in November.

It comes as News Corp reports Ray Vaega, Ethan Bullemor, Jamie Humphreys and Gordon Chan Kum Tong have re-signed on Top 30 deals for next season. There are plans to lock in star second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu beyond 2025 too.

The club is also reportedly keen to re-sign workhorse centre Brad Parker, who is without a deal for next season at this stage. Manly want to give injured prop Matt Lodge a deal for next season and are considering another contract for veteran Aaron Woods too.

The Sea Eagles finished the year 12th, but capped off the season on a high with a 54-12 win over the Wests Tigers.

THE FOXX IS NOT TROTTING TOWARDS THE EXIT

Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr has been linked to a surprise early exit from the struggling club, despite being contracted for another two seasons.

Addo-Carr represented New South Wales this season, but apart from that, it’s been a disappointing year for the flyer and his club side.

Josh Addo-Carr has been linked to a Dogs exit. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Considering the form of the Bulldogs, its little wonder Addo-Carr has been unable to show his best, and at times it has appeared he’s been playing at less than 100%.

Veteran journalist Brent Read suggested that a number of rival clubs have inquired about the representative winger and whether he’d be keen to greener pastures.

“There was a CEO meeting last week and there was a bit of talk there that Josh Addo-Carr might be on the move or might be up for grabs,” Read told Triple M.

News Corp reported there were some suggestions that a third party had been shopping around the flyer to rival clubs including the Tigers.

But, Read said: “As I understand, his agent has come out and denied that so Josh is going nowhere which will disappoint some clubs because when some clubs heard that it sort of piqued their interest and they thought they may be a chance of getting Josh.

“It has been a difficult year, he hasn’t been at his best, although no one has been at the Dogs.

“There was just a bit of mail going around and some CEO’s were talking about it but his agent has slammed the door shut on it … He’s content at the Bulldogs.

“There will be some movement there in the off-season. There will be plenty of boys moving, but Josh Addo-Carr won’t be one of them.”

Originally published as Panthers shock offer to Jarome Luai as cap squeeze set to spark bidding war