Jarome Luai has been spotted in Papua New Guinea meeting with Chiefs officials about a possible move to the NRL’s 19th team.
Code Sports first reported Luai was seen in Port Moresby on Sunday with key members of the Chiefs hierarchy as he weighs up joining the PNG team in 2028.
Watch every game of every round of the NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.
Luai, 29, is contracted at the Wests Tigers until the end of 2028 but the playmaker has a yearly clause in his deal that allows him to choose to stay at the Tigers or leave.
According to Code Sports, Luai must inform the Tigers by Thursday (April 30) if he wants to stay at the club for another year.
Luai played in the Tigers’ 33-14 win over the Canberra Raiders at Leichhardt Oval on Thursday night, and the club was aware he was planning to head overseas.
The SMH reported Luai’s visit to PNG was being co-ordinated by the Chiefs CEO Lorna McPherson, and general manager, Michael Chammas.
If Luai joins PNG in 2028, he would leave the Tigers three years into his five-year deal, worth around $1.2 million per season. The NRL would not register his contract at the Tigers for less than that due to the competition’s contract rules.
It means the Samoan five-eighth would have to earn the equivalent of more than $2 million per season at a club in Australia given the tax-free contracts on offer at the Chiefs in PNG.
“He has not made this a secret to the Tigers, they knew he would be out of the country,” Lara Pitt said on Fox League’s coverage on Sunday.
“Whether or not they knew he would be in PNG is another story. We know he has all sorts of clauses in his contract at the Tigers.
“Cleary he’s exploring his options. This would be an enormous coup for he brand new franchise.”
Greg Alexander said: “It is very interesting to think Jarome might be their first marquee signing.”
“The Chiefs and the Bears are coming into the competition looking for marquee signings,” Michael Ennis added.
“This is going to happen regularly. When there’s clauses in contracts that allow these things to happen.
“It’s heartbreaking for Tigers fans. They’re sitting up the top of the competition. Jarome’s a massive part, he’s been a huge recruit for them.
“It would be so disappointing for them if they did lose them. Fascinating story.”
Even accounting for the improvement of Adam Doueihi in the halves, it would be a hammer blow for the Tigers to lose both Lachlan Galvin and Luai within a couple of years.
