Shane Richardson, the chief executive of Wests Tigers, describes Jarome Luai as a “diamond” of an acquisition whose game-changing impact will extend well beyond the field.
The most intriguing trade drama of the NRL off-season came to a close on Wednesday when Penrith’s five-eighth, who won three premierships, confirmed he would join the struggling Tigers effective in 2025.
Luai turned down a big-money offer from Canterbury and interest from the Panthers, his junior team, in favor of a five-year contract that will make him the game-managing half of the joint venture.
Luai considered his options, which included managing the team at the NRL level, pushing himself at a team lacking in success, collaborating with coach Benji Marshall, and earning a substantial salary increase.
The agreement is a huge victory for the
“We just had to get him.”
Late in the season of 2017, Richardson was given temporary control of the Tigers after the team’s dysfunctional and despised front staff was cleared out.
After taking over for Justin Pascoe at the Tigers, the former executive from South Sydney and Penrith made it apparent that he thought Luai was the key to the Panthers’ winning formula.
“He’s also a massive coup for us off the field in terms of marketing,” added Richardson.
“He’s an exciting person to have on board and he will be a game-changer for us.”
As Marshall starts his first full season as coach in 2024, Richardson cautioned the Tigers would still go through growing pains despite the high-profile acquisition of Luai.
Above all, the
