Situational report: The Penrith Panthers to loss their hit man as…
The Penrith Panthers will have to race against the clock to sign Jarome Luai, who is scheduled to sign with a new management firm this week.
Luai, who is out of contract at the end of 2024, can begin negotiating with prospective teams on November 1.
While the Penrith Panthers, led by coach Ivan Cleary and backed by halves partner Nathan Cleary, have voiced confidence in their ability to retain the star half, Luai is set to test the market.
According to Channel 9s Danny Weidler, Luai is set to confirm this week that he has signed with Black Money Enterprises.
The management company also represent the likes of South Sydney Rabbitohs stars Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker.
Luai had a 90-day cooling off period following the end of his previous management contract and while it was speculated they had given permission for sign on his own during that time no deal has been able to be reached with Penrith now meaning he is likely to hit the open market.
It means only two weeks remain before Luai will begin to field offers from rival clubs, where a reported $300,000 per year difference could exist.
According to reports, the Panthers can only pay Luai about $700,000 per season, whereas other clubs may transform him into a million-dollar player.
One of the clubs expected to make a move for Luai is the Canberra Raiders, who have yet to replace Jack Wighton, who is set to leave for South Sydney ahead of next season.
Other teams, like as the Newcastle Knights and St George Illawarra Dragons, may be interested, while Kieran Foran is expected to retire at the end of 2024 and a dearth of quality halves on the market may persuade the Gold Coast Titans to make a move.
