Jarome Luai says Stephen Crichton’s decision to leave Penrith at the end of the year is the “nature of the game” as other clubs try to cash in on their success.
Crichton told his teammates on Monday that 2023 would be his last year in Sydney’s golden west, with the Bulldogs the favourites to sign him on a lucrative deal from next year onwards where he will likely get to play fullback.
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The Panthers have felt the pinch like all successful clubs before them, with Matt Burton moving on after the 2021 title, while Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau were the big-name losses after last year’s premiership.
Crichton and Luai both grew up in Sydney’s west and have forged an unbreakable bond at the Panthers, Blues and with Samoa at the recent World Cup, which is why the star five-eighth is gutted to see him go.
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“Definitely upset that he’s leaving. He’s one of our best mates and I came up through the grades with him,” Luai told NCA NewsWire.
“I watched him blossom as a player and as a person, so the fact that he’s going to be somewhere else is a bit far away, so we want to stay present and make the most of his time here with us.
“It’s not really surprising with all the success we’ve had here together and the players that have already left. That’s the nature of the game. If your team keeps succeeding and doing well, then you know your market value is going to go up.
“That’s the business side of things, but our focus is on making the most of his time left with us.”
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The Panthers have made a habit of sending out their stars with a premiership and they’ll start the new season as favourites as they chase a third title on the trot.
Replacing someone like Crichton who can play anywhere in the backline is something they haven’t had to think about yet, but if there’s one club that can handle it, it’s Penrith thanks to their incredible junior nursery.
Izack Tago showed last year just how seamless they make things look as he filled in for Burton at left centre, and the hunt is now on to find someone to replace Crichton and his freakish ability to produce big plays in the biggest moments.
“Penrith is known for their nursery and how they’re able to grow and develop the youngsters,” Luai said.
“They just step in and they’re ready for their roles, and that’s just how it goes. It’s a celebration of what we’ve done.”
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The NRL is littered with former Panthers players who have moved on over the years, with all eyes on the round 21 showdown against a Bulldogs side featuring Burton, Kikau and former Penrith assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo.
It’s something Luai has grown used to over the years, and he’s vowed to not hold back on the banter when he has to face his former comrades.
“They are my best mates, but we’re competing against them, so it’s going to be fun out on the field,” the star playmaker said.
“They know how we are and what we do. We’re all the same out in Penrith and we love competing against each other. I love testing myself against the very best, and the good thing is I know everything about them, so we’ll see how we go.”
