Panthers gun five-eighth Jarome Luai is set to be one of the biggest names to hit the open market come November 1.
The premiers face a salary cap squeeze after gun backrower Liam Martin re-signed and star fullback Dylan Edwards’ mammoth extension worth north of $900,000-per-season all-but locked in.
Throw in Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota on long-term contracts, and the Panthers’ salary cap is running thin.
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Coach Ivan Cleary has made it clear he wants Luai to remain at the foot of the mountain, but Penrith powerbrokers won’t be able to match offers tabled by NRL rivals.
Pundits have predicted the 26-year-old could field around $1 million per-season on the open market, having won back-to-back grand finals and represented the NSW Blues.
To make matters worse, Luai could be unable to negotiate an extension with the Panthers until his cooling off period ends in mid-October after ending his partnership with SFX Sports Group.
Luai has been linked to the Bulldogs and a reunion with former Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo and left-edge teammate Viliame Kikau.
“Jarome Luai has put himself in the conversation where he could go into a club and become a marquee player,” The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley said on NRL360.
However, his Panthers halves partner is confident Luai will remain in Penrith revealing he has “been in his ear”.
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“We’ve ridden this rollercoaster together, he’s one of my great mates, he’s like a brother, so of course I want him to stay,” Cleary told the SMH.
“I definitely know he can earn more (elsewhere), but fingers crossed we can keep him. I think we can keep him.
“Missing out on the last Origin was tough on him. But he has thick skin… he came back to Penrith with a smile on his face.
“He’s constantly trying to get better, despite the success he’s had. I’m so proud of him. And I want him here.”
With a general shortage of top-quality playmakers across the NRL and even fewer being free to negotiate in the open market, Luai is set to become hot property ahead of a potential 2025 switch.
Here’s the clubs who could make a play for Jarome Luai and how he could fit in their team in 2025.
PANTHERS
Current halves: Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai.
Analysis: We have to start with his current club. The Panthers have a knack of retaining their key spine players. Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau and Apisai Koroisau have all departed in recent years, but Cleary and Luai, alongside Yeo, Leota and Fisher-Harris have all re-signed. Speaking after his side’s win over the Bulldogs, Ivan Cleary made it clear he wants Luai to remain at the Panthers. “I want him to stay here, he wants to stay,” Cleary said. “But he knows what we think of him, and I know how much he loves the place. “He’s part of our team, he’s a local boy. It’s not just how he plays, it is how he connects our team and we definitely want him here long-term.” Luai has also been an integral part of Penrith’s success in recent years, but his decision will come down to his salary with offers from rivals likely to be higher than what Panthers powerbrokers will table.
BULLDOGS
Current halves: Matt Burton and Toby Sexton
Analysis: Luai joining the Bulldogs seems the most obvious choice for the two-time premiership winner. He has a relationship with three players who will be key to the Bulldogs’ success in 2024 in Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau and Matt Burton. Phil Gould’s desperate search for a man to partner Burton ended mid-season, acquiring promising halfback Toby Sexton. However, he could be the man to make way if Luai arrives at Belmore. With another year to learn how to organise a team, Burton could wear the No.7 and Luai the No.6 for the Bulldogs, who are in the middle of a ruthless recruitment drive. Gould and Ciraldo aren’t afraid to send players packing and if Luai shows a desire to join their club, they will do everything they can to accommodate him on their salary cap. Luai’s partnership on the left-edge with Kikau and Burton for the Panthers was also one of the most feared across the NRL, so Bulldogs brass could even consider switching their marquee man to the outside backs if it best suits the team. Gould’s raid on the Panthers could continue and Luai will be the first man in his sights.
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ROOSTERS
Current halves: Luke Keary and Sam Walker/Sandon Smith/Drew Hutchison/Joey Manu
Analysis: Trent Robinson’s side have had a revolving door of halves partners for Luke Keary this season and are facing a mammoth decision. Young gun Sam Walker hasn’t featured since he was dropped before the club’s Anzac Day clash, but he remains the Roosters likely halfback for the future if they don’t hit the market for a No.7. With Luai’s contract expiring at the end of 2024, the same time as Keary, Robinson could make a play for the Panthers star to replace his veteran five-eighth. Keary, 31, has been one of the club’s most loyal servants but could call time on an impressive career after next season unless he extends his contract or joins a rival. A move for Luai would see him partner Sam Walker in the halves, with the 21-year-old picking up the brunt of the team’s organisation. This partnership is aun unlikely one given the duo’s likenesses is their style of play, but Robinson could make it work. Another issue could be cap space, however the Tricolours have a huge number of players whose contracts expiring at the end of next season. The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley also pointed to his “polarising nature” and questioned “Could you seriously imagine Jarome Luai in a Roosters jumper? No way.”
TIGERS
Current halves: Luke Brooks and Daine Laurie.
Analysis: The Tigers are in a real predicament when it comes to their halves, with both the players named to feature in Round 23 leaving at the year’s end. Meanwhile, Adam Doueihi is also expected to be sidelined for majority of the 2024 season, meaning Sea Eagles young gun Latu Fainu will be the club’s only fit playmaker outside of Jake Simpkin in 2024. Fainu is a raw and talented player earmarked for big things and will need an experienced playmaker alongside him who can steer the team around the park. Luai may not be that man, having deputised for Cleary for the majority of his career. Tim Sheens’ outfit have also been linked with a number of halfbacks, including veteran Aidan Sezer and Dragons young gun Jayden Sullivan and Sharks playmaker Braydon Trindall. Sheens and Marshall are yet to solve their halves dilemma and haven’t reportedly shown interest in signing Luai for the 2025 season. However, with cap space to burn and a lack of marquee players free to negotiate — they could still make a play for Luai to partner Fainu.
DRAGONS
Current halves: Ben Hunt and Junior Amone
Analysis: Ben Hunt’s future at the Dragons is still up in the air even though incoming coach Shane Flanagan will be desperate to retain the star halfback. He is contracted until the end of 2025, meaning if the Dragons make a play for Luai they would feature for a season together. Hunt’s likeness to that of Cleary is strong and the pair would easily be able to forge a successful partnership. Amone is no certain starter under Flanagan, despite showing glimpses of class across his 49 NRL games. Flanagan has told multiple players they are free to leave and will be ruthless in his rebuild of the club, with Jaiyden Hunt, Zane Musgrove, Jayden Sullivan and Max Feagai they are free to leave the club. Their departures would open up a chunk of cap space that could be free to make a play for a top quality playmaker like Luai, however Flanagan will likely focus on improving the club’s faltering forward pack, having already signed Hame Sele and discussed a potential move with English enforcer Luke Thompson.
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RAIDERS
Current halves: Jamal Fogarty and Jack Wighton
Analysis: Luai landing in the nation’s capital seems an odd move, on the surface. But the deeper you look, the more it seems it genuinely could work. With Jack Wighton leaving the club in 2024, Ricky Stuart has a mammoth amount of cap space at his disposal. The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley questioned if Stuart would welcome Luai to the Raiders, being one of the NRL’s ‘bad boys’. However, he would be a strong replacement for Wighton who is an off the cuff playmaker. Alongside Jamal Fogarty, Luai could drift around the field like he does for the Panthers and strike when the iron’s hot. That would leave Fogarty to do the bulk of the kicking and organisational work. Luai could also forge another strong left-side partnership with NSW representative Hudson Young who also can run a strong line and has impressive ball-handling skills, like former teammate Kikau. The Raiders are reportedly bidding for David Fifita’s services after he became a free agent following the sacking of Titans coach Justin Holbrook. However, Stuart will likely still have cap space to use in an attempt to deliver a premiership for Canberra faithful.
DOLPHINS
Current halves: Sean O’Sullivan and Isaiya Kato/Kodi Nikorima/Anthony Milford
Analysis: Wayne Bennett has battled with injury and also form when it comes to picking his halves this season. Against the Knights in Round 23, Bennett has named O’Sullivan and Milford, having previously had Katoa as his first choice five-eighth. The young gun will be a successful first grade and at only 19 already has 17 NRL appearances under his belt. But the Dolphins are looking for a marquee player and he may have to make way of the NRL’s newest franchise make a play for Luai. Dolphins chief executive Terry Reader told foxsports.com.au the club have “some salary cap space” and confirmed they “are always on the lookout for talent”. With both Milford and Nikorima off-contract after the 2024 season, Luai could be the perfect replacement and has played alongside O’Sullivan before in his return season at the Panthers.
