Jarome Luai is set to depart the Wests Tigers at the end of the 2025 season, one year before his contract was due to expire, after the club agreed to release him from the final year of his deal. The 29-year-old halfback, who signed a lucrative long-term contract with the PNG Chiefs in April, will now join the expansion side for the 2026 NRL season.
Luai's Instagram Reaction
Luai responded to the leaked news with a brief four-word post on Instagram: "God's plan, not mine." The message was accompanied by a soundtrack of Rod Wave's song Moving On, signalling his readiness to turn the page on his brief Tigers stint.
A Turbulent Tigers Tenure
Luai joined the Tigers in 2025 after a decorated career at Penrith, where he won four premierships. He was expected to form a dynamic halves partnership with young playmaker Lachlan Galvin, but the combination never materialised. Galvin was released to the Bulldogs midway through the season, leaving Luai as the primary playmaker. Now the Tigers are keen to avoid a similar situation with 21-year-old Latu Fainu, who is being groomed as a starting halfback. The club has also secured the services of Jake Averillo for next season and beyond.
Struggles on the Field
Since Luai announced his move to the PNG Chiefs, the Tigers have lost seven of their nine games. Sitting in 12th place on the ladder, two games outside the top eight, their playoff hopes are fading. A loss to the in-form Warriors this weekend would further dent their chances. Despite a promising start to the season, coach Benji Marshall remains optimistic. "Confidence comes from doing the hard parts of the game well, and we know we can do it because we've seen it," Marshall said. "It takes one game to find confidence, it takes one play to find confidence."
Marshall's Perspective on Recent Losses
Marshall pointed to narrow defeats as a sign of progress. "Amongst those losses that, especially the last three with 10 minutes to go in every game, we were a chance of either winning it or winning it, and we actually lost it," he explained. "The games were in our hands and we weren't good enough to take advantage."
— with AAP
