
Wests Tigers have announce the signing of star five-eighth Jarome Luai on a five-year deal.
The three-time premiership-winning playmaker will join the club at the end of next season.
Luai has played 107 games for the Panthers over six seasons, making his NRL debut in 2018.
The 26-year-old has helped Penrith to three consecutive grand final triumphs over the past three years, during which time he made seven State of Origin appearances for New South Wales.
Wests Tigers head coach Benji Marshall believes the addition of Luai will be great for the club.
“We are super excited to announce the signing of Jarome for the 2025 season on a five-year deal,” said Marshall.
“His experience as a genuine premiership-winning playmaker will be great for us and the future of our club.
“We love the way Jarome plays his footy and even better, he is a great person.
“We very much look forward to welcoming Jarome and his family to our club in 2025, but right now, season 2024 is our focus.”
Luai is excited about joining Wests Tigers but wants to focus on his final season at the Panthers.
Luai will make the move to Wests Tigers at the end of next season and reunite with a few of his former Panthers’ teammates Api Koroisau, Brent Naden, and Charlie Staines.
A major signing for Wests but one big question is what this means for former Leeds Rhinos and Huddersfield Giants star Aidan Sezer.
Sezer has joined Wests for the 2024 season but already has to fight for a place among two young and exciting halfbacks who are seen as the more likely to partner Luai going forward.
Luai therefore is likely set to come in and replace Sezer ahead of the 2025 season leaving with the former Man of Steel nominee in need of a new club ahead of the 2025 season.
Could this prompt a return to Super League? A more likely move would be to follow good friend and former Leeds teammate Blake Austin to a club like the Entrance Tigers. Another former Leeds player is set to do the same in the shape of Zane Tetevano with the Wyong Roos.
