‘Wasting $700,000’: Eels legend’s message to former club as Tigers confirm ‘surprise’ Luai exit
The Wests Tigers have confirmed that co-captain Jarome Luai will leave the club early, following his decision to join the PNG Chiefs in 2028. The Parramatta Eels are currently the frontrunners to sign him for a one-year bridging deal, though the move has faced criticism from club legends regarding the financial cost.
Why it matters
This move highlights the high-stakes financial and strategic planning involved in professional rugby league roster management.
NRL NRL-PREMIERSHIP ‘Wasting $700,000’: Eels legend’s message to former club as Tigers confirm ‘surprise’ Luai exit Benji tight lipped on Luai future | 00:46 Fox League from Fox Sports July 11th, 2026 5:09 pm The Wests Tigers have confirmed Jarome Luai’s early exit at the end of this season, revealing why they have made the “difficult” call to part ways with their co-captain.
It comes after reports earlier in the week that Luai was essentially asked to leave the club before the end of his current contract.
Luai’s pending exit was made official in a Tigers press release on Saturday, just hours after the team’s heavy loss to the Warriors on Friday night.
Luai originally signed a bumper five-year deal worth around $1.2 million a season to join the Tigers from 2025 but earlier this season, exercised a ‘get-out’ clause in the contract to become the PNG Chiefs’ inaugural signing.
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