Wests Tigers close in on Jarome Luai with multimillion dollar deal | Daily Telegraph
Jarome Luai has made the biggest call of his NRL career to leave premiers Penrith – and potentially join the Wests Tigers.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal an emotional Luai informed Penrith head coach
Ivan Cleary and his teammates of his intention to leave at the end of next season at training on Saturday morning.
Luai’s decision has triggered increasing confidence within the Wests Tigers camp that they can secure one of the biggest signings in their history on a five-year deal worth $6 million.
Rugby league was awash with rumours on Friday night that Penrith superstar Jarome Luai was poised to agree a monstrous deal with the Tigers as early Saturday morning, although sources close to the talks insist no deal has been done.
Rival suitor Canterbury have been told they remain in contention, while there is a suggestion a third club have also weighed-in with a significant offer.
The Tigers are the clear frontrunner after talks advanced to a significant level over the 48-hours.
Penrith superstar Jarome Luai is believed to be edging closer to a call on his long-term playing future. Credit: NRL Images.Credit: NRL Images.
The Tigers have tabled a monster $1.2 million per-season deal for Luai. The electric playmaker would be 32 years old in the final year of the deal.
Under the NRL’s new guidelines, Penrith would have 10 days to respond once Luai has agreed to accept an offer from the Tigers or any other club.
The Tigers, having undergone a major overhaul earlier this week with the
departure of their chair Lee Hagipantelis and chief executive Justin Pascoe,appear on course to pip the Bulldogs to Luai after tabling a monstrous multimillion dollar bid.
Penrith have also tabled a two-year extension to keep Luai but their offer was well short of the bids by the Tigers and Bulldogs.
Coach Benji Marshall has taken a personal interest in his pursuit, making it a priority for the club.
Interim chief executive Shane Richardson has also intensified his focus on Luai, a player he has coveted since his time at South Sydney.
Luai is believed to have edged closer to a call over the past 24 hour, having held further talks with people close to the clubs pursuing his signature.
The Tigers backed off moves for
Addin Fonua-Blake and Justin Olam to focus on Luai and his decision could have ramifications for both those players.
Fonua-Blake is also in the sights of Cronulla and St George Illawarra while the Storm remain open to Olam’s departure, having decided to move in another direction.
Olam is expected to start the season well down the pecking order in Melbourne if he stays, hence the Tigers’ initial interest in bringing him to Sydney.
Wests Tigers interim chief Shane Richardson is backing a push to sign Jarome Luai. Picture: David Swift
They shifted their attention after failing to strike a deal and it has fallen squarely on Luai as he ponders his future. No club has more to gain from his decision than the Tigers, who are in the midst of a transition after the independent review into club governance recommended wholesale changes at the very top of the club.
Meanwhile, the architects of the most dramatic overhaul in Wests Tigers history have sung the praises of departed chair Lee Hagipantelis and chief executive Justin Pascoe.
Consultants Tony Crawford and Gary Barnier made more than 40 recommendations after interviewing key personnel at the club and across the game.
The most significant changes involved the departure of Pascoe and Hagipantelis. This masthead was interviewed as part of the review and received an email from Crawford and Barnier on Saturday outlining the impact Hagipantelis and Pascoe had on the club.
Crawford and Barnier also showered praise on the Tigers shareholders - the Holman Barnes, Wests Magpies and Balmain Tigers - for voting in favour of a majority independent board.
Chair Lee Hagipantelis and chief executive Justin Pascoe were both pushed out the door at the Tigers. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images
“By doing so they have put the interests of Wests Tiger ahead of their own,” they said.
“This is a courageous decision, which we believe will serve the club well.”
Amid talk that Hagipantelis could look to end his major sponsorship given his criticism of the review and key figures, Crawford and Barnier said his contribution to the club as the major sponsor remained important.
Crawford and Barnier said Pascoe left an immense legacy at the Tigers.
“Justin’s decision to also put the club first was selfless,” he said.
“Justin’s legacy will undoubtedly be the Centre of Excellence at Concord. Justin drove this project with great determination and this facility will serve the club for many years.”
