Penrith's 'smart' move towards Jarome Luai amid $6 million Wests Tigers decision
The Panthers have given the playmaker some space as he weighs up one of the biggest calls of his life.
The experts reckon there are three major decisions most of us confront in life – your choice of partner, whether to have kids and taking out a mortgage. In Jarome Luai's case, you can add leaving a very successful football club.
Luai's request for some time away from Penrith to full digest his decision to quit the three-time premiers and likely join NRL battlers the Wests Tigers in 2025 is understandable. And the fact Penrith granted that request to allow the star playmaker some time off is both commendable and smart.
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Commendable because Luai is obviously dealing with a lot of emotion right now and smart because it gives him some thinking time to really assess the enormity and consequences of his move. Remember, the Panthers aren’t completely out of the race due to the NRL's 10-day cooling off period.
It gives a player's current club time to mount a counter offer, should they wish, once a player has officially informed the NRL of an intention to switch teams. Leaving his band of brothers in black is weighing heavily on Luai, as it would for anyone of us leaving a successful organisation for one of dubious quality.
Yes, the money being thrown his way by the Tigers is huge and will act as soothing cream. But cash is rarely the primary motivation for the really elite players. Winning is.
Luai could stay at Penrith on very good coin and play finals football for the next five years, realistically adding to his three premiership rings. He could also send a strong message to that close-knit Penrith community, of which he is a huge part, by turning down the money and staying.
Imagine the lift that would give the locals, who love him so much many have named sons after him. Luai will become richer by joining the Tigers but will earn every cent.
Why would Jarome Luai join the struggling Wests Tigers?
New CEO Shane Richardson refused to use the word "rebuild" in describing the club's current predicament, presumably because the foundations are beyond shonky. The move to oust the board is seen by many as a bold statement of intent, as is Benji Marshall's ascension to the head coaching role despite his lack of experience.
Time will tell how that all pans out. Luai, if he takes the Tigers' moolah as expected, will walk in the year after next and be expected to produce from word go. He oozes ability and class but won’t have the likes of Nathan Cleary, Brian To'o, Liam Martin, James Fisher-Harris or Dylan Edwards to bail him out when the going gets tough.
Not to mention the experienced, calming influence of Ivan Cleary. Luai knows all that and is obviously losing sleep over it. No wonder he's taken stress leave.
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