In a surprise move, Jarome Luai has announced his departure from the Penrith Panthers at the end of the 2024 season to join the Wests Tigers on a lucrative five-year contract reportedly valued at $6 million. This marks the end of Luai’s impactful tenure with the Panthers, where he contributed significantly to their three NRL premiership victories. Luai expressed that leaving Penrith was an extremely tough decision, citing both the financial opportunity and a desire to lead a team as a primary player rather than sharing the spotlight with other stars as key factors.
His exit from Penrith is also tied to salary cap constraints that have arisen due to the club’s recent successes. The Panthers respected his choice to explore new opportunities and waived a mandatory cooling-off period to facilitate his transfer. Luai will remain with the Panthers for the 2024 season, focusing on his recovery from shoulder surgery and contributing to their premiership defense before moving to the Tigers in 2025. This transition is a huge gain for the Tigers, as coach Benji Marshall sees Luai as a foundational piece in building the team’s future success
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