Luai could become free agent as Tigers captain makes call on release clause

Yahoo

6 hours ago

Wests Tigers co-captain Jarome Luai has revealed when he'll make a call on the release clause in his contract, which gives the five-eighth the ability to leave the club at the end of next year. Luai signed a five-year deal worth $6 million, to move from the Penrith Panthers to the Tigers in 2025.
Although it later emerged the four-time premiership winner had a clause in his contract that could see him leave at the end if 2026. On Monday, reported that Luai has until April 30 next year to make a call on his playing career at the Tigers, and he told the publication he will make the decision at the end of the season. But if he doesn't decide before November 1, he'll actually become a free agent and can negotiate with rival clubs.
Despite Luai's insistence he wants to help rebuild the Tigers under Benji Marshall, question marks remain over whether he will stay if they can't get results. Coach Marshall is facing plenty of pressure to improve their position having stopped their poor run of form on the weekend with a win over the Roosters in round 18.
However, uncertainty remains around Luai's future with the possibility the playmaker could become a free agent at the end of next year. This would see him attract lucrative offers from other clubs if he deems his future is elsewhere.
And even though Luai has held off any formal decision on his contract, Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson isn't worried about the playmaker. Speaking on NRL 360 on Monday night, Richardson said Luai has shown he wants to be a part of the rebuild at the club.
'He's got a clause next year that if he chooses he can pull out the following year, but he's shown no signs to me (that will be the case). He was there yesterday," Richardson said of Luai supporting his teammates against the Roosters. "He's shown no signs to me about not being the leader we always thought he would be He's been outstanding for us ... and I think he'll be here for the long-term.'
While Richardson said the club could try and fast-track the decision with Luai before next year, the CEO said Luai is there for the rebuild. 'I probably could (discuss removing the clauses). I get on well with his manager ... but one thing you've got to remember is you're building a club,' Richardson said.
'Our club was reviewed as 'no-one would want to go there'. We were rubbish and everything else. What you've got to do is build a club where people want to be. Lachie (Galvin) didn't want to be there, that's fine.
"If Jarome didn't want to be there because we weren't creating the club we wanted then that's what it is. But I think we're creating a club internally and a club generally that players will want to be at."
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Luai has endured a rollercoaster of a year at the club since his arrival. Having joined as co-captain, Luai has been forced to deal with the Lachlan Galvin saga in his first few months having been dragged into the situation after a controversial social media post about the situation.
After starting the season with a 5-4 record and hovering in the top eight, the Tigers lost six games in a row. They bounced back on the weekend with a shock win over a depleted Roosters side, but Luai was not involved having missed the game due to State of Origin selection.
Luai will be expected to return at halfback in their game against the Warriors this weekend with the Tigers sitting in 14th. While the Tigers lost Galvin to the Bulldogs and Talyn Da Silva to the Eels already this season, Latu Fainu has shown signs of improvement in his last three games in the halves.