The Wests Tigers have granted Jarome Luai a release from the final year of his $1.2 million contract, allowing the five-eighth to pursue a new club for the 2027 NRL season. Luai, who is committed to joining the PNG Chiefs from 2028, was informed last week that he was free to explore options, with Parramatta emerging as the clear front-runners.
Stunning reversal from Tigers
The decision represents a major shift from the Tigers' earlier stance, when they insisted Luai would play a key role in ending their finals drought. Three months after Luai signed with the Chiefs, the Tigers have shown him the door as their season spirals.
“We love what Jarome has brought to this club both on and off the field which is the difficult part of this situation, but we need to look to the future,” Tigers chief executive Shaun Mielekamp said on Saturday. “Having Jarome’s departure at the end of 2027 already confirmed, we needed to look closely at our roster and where we invest our resources with a longer-term view. We’re in an industry where difficult calls need to be made at times and we feel this is in the best interests of the Wests Tigers moving forward.”
Coach's change of tune
When Luai signed with PNG in April, coach Benji Marshall stressed his importance for 2026 and 2027. But after 10 games—eight of which the Tigers lost—their finals hopes are in disarray. The situation mirrors last season, when Lachlan Galvin's move to the Bulldogs derailed the Tigers' campaign.
The Tigers lost 32-6 to the Warriors on Friday, and Luai did not attend the post-game press conference, with Marshall reluctant to discuss the issue. While Luai's exit weakens the Tigers next season, the club gains significant salary cap space. “We’ve got some great young halves here at the club and we need to provide them with the best chance to grow and develop as players, which means we need to give them opportunities to test themselves at NRL level,” Marshall said. “This agreement is testament to Jarome and his commitment to this group, that he’s willing to step aside to ensure our club is in the best position possible over the next few years.”
