Wests Tigers have announced the signing of star five-eighth Jarome Luai on a five-year deal.
The three-time premiership-winning playmaker will join the club from Penrith at the end of the 2024 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 played seven State of Origin games for New South Wales and 11 Tests for Samoa (2017-22).
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.”
In the winner's sheds: Jarome Luai
The Panthers, meanwhile, released a statement on Wednesday saying that although they were disappointed to lose Luai they respected his decision.
“We acknowledge that the situation is compounded by salary cap capacity due to the club’s recent success,” Panthers Rugby League CEO Matt Cameron said.
“As the club has shown in previous years, despite agreeing to terms with another NRL club for future seasons, we look forward to Jarome remaining at the Panthers for the 2024 season as we prepare not only for the World Club Challenge against Wigan Warriors, but also another premiership defence.”
Luai informed the Panthers of his decision to accept a long-term deal with another club before Christmas and his departure was confirmed after the club waived the NRL's new 10-day cooling off period for contracting.
Interim Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson had previously tried to recruit Luai to South Sydney and made it clear at a press conference upon his arrival that the Penrith and NSW Origin representative would be the club's No.1 target.
"I've made my feelings well known on Luai for a long time," Richardson said.
"In my opinion, he was the best young half coming through. He's proven at the highest level that he's the best young half coming through.
"Not only that, he's a great team leader – that Penrith side revolves around Luai. He is a great person off the field, despite what many people like to try and make out.
Richardson: Put it on the field and fans will follow
"You couldn't meet a better person than him or ask for a better person than him at the club."
Despite the star playmaker's decision to move on at the end of the 2024 season, Penrith remain well stocked in the spine with co-captain Nathan Cleary signed until the end of 2027 and young playmaker Jack Cole until the end of 2026.
Former Raiders playmaker Brad Schneider joins on a two-year deal from the start of 2024 while rising star fullback Isaiah Iongi joins the full-time squad in 2025 and could be an option to shift into the halves with Dylan Edwards signed until 2028.
