Written by Megan Taylor, sports reporter covering international sports since 2020
Jarome Luai will leave the Wests Tigers after the 2026 NRL season, ending a high-profile stay that began only last year. The four-time premiership winner will join the Parramatta Eels for 2027 before becoming the first marquee player for the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
The Wests Tigers signed Jarome Luai from the Penrith Panthers on a five-year deal reportedly worth $6 million, hoping he would drive their return to finals football. The move also offered Luai a chance to establish himself away from Nathan Cleary after Andrew Johns labelled him a “back-up singer” rather than a “main playmaker”.
Readers can follow Toby Rudolf’s Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks contract news, while the official Wests Tigers announcement confirms Luai’s route through Parramatta and Papua New Guinea.
Luai Leaves a Mixed Tigers Legacy
“It made me feel underappreciated,” Jarome Luai said of the earlier criticism. “At the end of the day it is a bit of a motivator for me, to jump out of that category and be my own man.”
Jarome Luai did not deliver the immediate finals return many supporters expected, and a switch from halfback to five-eighth reduced his control of the side. However, his arrival helped make the Wests Tigers more attractive to recruits including Sunia Turuva and Kai Pearce-Paul.
Parramatta Move Carries Added History
The Parramatta Eels will use Jarome Luai as an experienced guide for young players during his single season at the club. His arrival carries extra intrigue after he mocked the Parramatta Eels following Penrith Panthers’ 2022 grand final victory, posting “daddy loves you” on social media.
The PNG Chiefs will then make Jarome Luai the face of their inaugural NRL campaign. His next challenge is to prove he can lead an expansion club as its primary playmaker.
