Analyzing Luai’s pivotal call as the star playmaker’s D-Day approaches
Jarome Luai, the most divisive player in the NRL, is set to make the most important choice of his illustrious career, which will have repercussions throughout the league.
D-Day is quickly coming since Panthers standout Luai has promised to decide his decision before starting preseason practice the following week.
Luai is debating whether to take a sizable salary or leave nearly $2 million on the table in order to continue pursuing championships with one of the all-time great teams.
Penrith have won the past three premierships and they’re favourites to contest what would be an NRL-era record fifth straight grand final next year.
But their salary cap bursting at the seams and the premiers haven’t been able to offer Luai anywhere near their rivals in both cash and duration.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary wants to keep his No. 6 and sensationally warned rival clubs they’d be taking a “risk” signing him as their chief playmaker.
Luai is signed at the Panthers next year and as things stand he’ll fulfil that contract, but an immediate swap deal could also be on the cards.
The 26-year-old has won three premierships, but things rarely work out for players who trade the top of the table with the bottom for cash
THE MONEY ON OFFER
The Panthers have tabled Luai a two-year extension worth $850,000 per season in a deal that would keep him at the club until the end of 2026.
Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers on the other hand are willing to pay Luai at least $1.1 million for four years.
Luai’s management has indicated that it’ll take $1.2 million to move their client away from the foot of the mountains – and the playmaker will probably get it.
That’s due to the lack of star halves on the market and the fact the Tigers have to pay overs because they’ve collected the past two wooden spoons.
If the Tigers meet his demand for $1.2 million per season, then over the course four years he’d be leaving $1.4 million on the table to stay at Penrith.
Even when factoring in the $90,000 per year Luai wouldn’t earn if he didn’t play Origin (due to his club’s struggles) it would be a gobsmacking amount of money to reject.
But rugby league legend Peter Sterling this week warned Luai against making a decision based on money.
Sterling was in the same position as Luai 40 years ago when he was offered big money to leave Parramatta after they’d won three straight premierships.