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Luai

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,317
I am in the keep Romey corner but wonder if he left in 2025, if we could somehow snag AFB with his money.

Would be nice having Fish and AFB starting and Leota replacing either.

We could almost run with Murraymob as 5/8 with the momentum those 3 would provide.

I don't think he'd take a pay cut and would be offered way more elsewhere
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
15,063
Gould is the exception to the rule. His success came instantly with little coaching experience before his appointment

Most rookies have to do the hard yards of experience.

Webster has been an assistant coach as far back as 2006 for three different clubs. As well as a lower grade coach. And a stint as caretaker coach.
He served his long apprenticeship and good luck to him.
Benji is clearly a big roll of the dice.
Either way it is not our problem.
There is no exception to the rule.... there is no rule, rookie is rookie, no matter how many assistant appointments you have
 

Fangs

Coach
Messages
13,788
Benji can teach Romey the art of throwing flick passes into the crowd and putting style over substance.
One of the most overrated players in my lifetime

Probably the most exciting player I've ever watched.

Though I don't recall him ever doing too well against us. We had the wood on the Tigers in the early years.


11/24 against Penrith.
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
15,063
Don't need AFB. Some shit club can pay overs for him.
Great player AFB, but we have what we need, we'll just need more of it, to replace JFH and Leota, in a another 5-7 seasons, which AFB wont be valuable or around for, stick to the process, we have a nursery, we dont need to spend overs on the player market, we are struggling to keep our marquees as it is
 

Bob

Juniors
Messages
1,454

NRL Market Watch: Penrith Panthers baulk at Jarome Luai’s reported $1.4 million offer​

The Penrith Panthers have tabled their offer to Jarome Luai, and while it’s a big number, it’s nowhere near what the reigning premiers believe has been thrown at their star five-eighth.


NRL: Wests Tigers are reportedly closer to offering Jarome Luai a 4 million dollar contract to leave the Premiers.
Penrith boss Brian Fletcher says the money being offered to Jarome Luai is “ridiculous” and he’s heard that one rival club is prepared to make the Panthers five-eighth the equal highest paid player in the NRL.

The call comes as Fletcher also outlined plans to secure Nathan Cleary to a lifetime deal to avoid the Penrith scrumbase being completely torn apart.
Fletcher suspects one NRL rival has offered Luai up to $1.4 million a season – which would equal Newcastle Dally M superstar Kalyn Ponga’s current salary as the biggest deal in NRL history.
The Luai-Cleary alliance has piloted the Panthers to four consecutive grand finals and three premierships, but Fletcher concedes the champions face a huge fight to keep the Samoan Test ace.
While Penrith’s two-year extension is worth around $850,000 a season, Luai could pocket an extra $1.5 million to $2m if he signed a more lucrative five-year deal with an NRL rival.
Fletcher revealed the true extent of Penrith’s desperate battle to keep Cleary’s scrumbase partner-in-crime.
Jarome Luai is a man in demand. Picture: Jonathan Ng


“I’ve heard Jarome has had offers of up to $1.4 million,” he said.
“Whether that’s right or wrong, I can’t tell you, but it’s a lot of money and if he chooses to take that sort of money, you can’t be crook on the bloke.
“He’s playing with us next year, but with the money he is being offered, it makes it difficult for us.
“The money that Jarome is being offered by the Tigers and some other clubs is ridiculous. We can’t compete with that.
“Look, if Jarome can get massive money like we’re hearing, well we’re happy for him and we wish him all the best.
Media-link
“Obviously our preference is for Jarome to stay. We’d love him to be here, but if he decides to go, it’s not a terrible thing for us.
“Our offer has been made and we can’t budge on that. He has to weigh up the balance between money and success.
“I can understand if Jarome wants to do the best in life and earn the money now that he can. If he gets all that extra money, he will have our blessing to go, but we’d love for Jarome to sign a new deal with us.
“It’s really up to him and his management to decide what’s best for him.
“Either way, whatever decision he makes, Jarome is a lucky boy.”
The Panthers are keen to keep halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai together – but not at any price. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The Panthers are keen to keep halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai together – but not at any price. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Meanwhile, Fletcher believes Cleary can play NRL until the age of 40 and declared he will be a Panther for life, claiming fans will “kill us” if the champion halfback is ever lost to the three-time premiers.
Cleary is signed until the end of 2027 but the Panthers are determined to take the talismanic playmaker off the open market for the long haul as they wage an uphill battle to keep his scrumbase cohort Luai.
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has met with the off-contract Luai and it is understood Cleary’s halves partner faces a massive financial sacrifice to remain at the foot of the mountains beyond next season.
Cleary is on $1.3 million a season and the potential loss of Luai would give Penrith the fiscal strength under the salary cap to ensure the NSW Origin maestro stays at the Panthers for 2030 and beyond.
“There’s no way we will lose Nathan Cleary,” Fletcher said.
“We will keep him here for life and hopefully the same goes for Ivan (Cleary, Panthers coach).
“Nathan and his father are here until 2027 and there’s plenty of time for us to extend them.
“We’d love to have Nathan here for even longer.

“To be honest, Nathan could play till he’s 40 he is that good.​

“With the way the modern game is with training methods and sports science, I believe he could get to 40.
“The fans would kill us if we let Nathan Cleary go – it won’t be happening on my watch.”
 

Bob

Juniors
Messages
1,454

NRL 2024: David Klemmer dragged into Wests Tigers’ $4 million Jarome Luai pursuit​

Former Test prop David Klemmer has emerged as an unsuspecting chess piece in the Wests Tigers $4 million pursuit of Jarome Luai.

NRL: Penrith coach Ivan Cleary has cautioned Jarome Luai on accepting a million dollar offer from a rival club as the star Panther weighs up his playing future.
Former Test prop David Klemmer has emerged as an unsuspecting chess piece in the Wests Tigers $4 million pursuit of Jarome Luai.

As the Wests Tigers prepare to launch a club-defining bid for the Penrith premiership-winner, it can be revealed that Klemmer has been floated to rival clubs in an attempt to remove his $750,000-a-year contract from the club’s salary cap.
It’s understood neither Klemmer or his agent were aware of any attempts to offer the 29-year-old to rival clubs and that the passing of Klemmer’s name to potential suitors was made by a third party unrelated to the front-rower.
Klemmer is contracted at the Wests Tigers through until 2026, with Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall rubber-stamping the deal for his move from Newcastle less than 12-months ago.
The former NSW State of Origin prop played 24-games for the Wests Tigers last season - the most number of games he’s played in one season since his debut year of 2013.
Jarome Luai (R) with triple premiership teammates Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o. Picture: NRL


The shock contract twist has emerged amid increasing speculation across the game that Luai has told a selection of his closest teammates that he is leaning towards leaving the Panthers at the end of 2024.
Marshall has taken a personal interest in the chase for Luai and it is understood he has the support of the club’s board to go all-in for the Panthers star.
However, it is anticipated that Marshall will face stiff competition from the Bulldogs, who have a long list of connections to Luai through head coach Cameron Ciraldo, marquee-signing Stephen Crichton, backrower Viliame Kikau, NSW Origin talent Matt Burton and fresh recruit Jaemon Salmon.
Media-link
Yet it is the Tigers that have got the edge after Marshall held a recent meeting with the three-time premiership-winner at his home in the inner-west of Sydney.
At the heart of the negotiations is Marshall’s preparedness to offer Luai the opportunity to be the chief playmaker, regardless of whether he plays in the six or seven jersey.
It is a position that many within the game believe Luai has craved, having spent his first grade career in the shadow of champion Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary.
Money is also a factor. It is understood the Wests Tigers are prepared to offer a deal worth close to $1.1 million per-season for Luai, who turns 27 in January.
Marshall will need full board approval to table the offer given the enormity of the contract. However, it is understood that is a mere formality.
Benji Marshall has been given the green light to make a big-money play for Jarome Luai. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images


An offer in excess of $1 million would blow Penrith out of the water - the Panthers have already indicated to Luai that they can only offer him a maximum of $850,000 per season.
The Tigers have signed veteran half Aidan Sezer for 2024 only, but have invested heavily in recruiting Dragons half Jayden Sullivan and also former Manly rising star Latu Fainu.
The Wests Tigers also have high hopes for teenager Lachlan Galvin, who was a star at this year’s Australian Schoolboys carnival.
Luai, who has played seven matches for NSW and 11 appearances for Samoa, is also seen as a mentor to the likes of Sullivan, Faini and Galvin.
The Wests Tigers are also leaning on their connection to Luai through former Penrith teammates Api Koroisau, Brent Naden and Charlie Staines.
David Klemmer has been floated to rivals. Picture: NRL Photos

David Klemmer has been floated to rivals. Picture: NRL Photos
Luai was intending to return to Penrith on Wednesday to step-up his rehabilitation from recent shoulder surgery.
He is racing the clock to be fit for the three-time premiers pre-season fixtures and opening round clash against Melbourne at AAMI Park.
Luai is one of the few playmakers on the open market at the end of 2024, giving him the whip hand in talks with interested clubs.
North Queensland’s Tom Dearden is also up for grabs and it is believed the Bulldogs also hold an interest in the Maroons star, although it would take something special to convince him to leave the Cowboys.
Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary has also entered the final year of his contract, although he is expected to sign an extension for at least one season to stay at Bondi Junction.
 

MugaB

Coach
Messages
15,063

NRL Market Watch: Penrith Panthers baulk at Jarome Luai’s reported $1.4 million offer​

The Penrith Panthers have tabled their offer to Jarome Luai, and while it’s a big number, it’s nowhere near what the reigning premiers believe has been thrown at their star five-eighth.


NRL: Wests Tigers are reportedly closer to offering Jarome Luai a 4 million dollar contract to leave the Premiers.
Penrith boss Brian Fletcher says the money being offered to Jarome Luai is “ridiculous” and he’s heard that one rival club is prepared to make the Panthers five-eighth the equal highest paid player in the NRL.

The call comes as Fletcher also outlined plans to secure Nathan Cleary to a lifetime deal to avoid the Penrith scrumbase being completely torn apart.
Fletcher suspects one NRL rival has offered Luai up to $1.4 million a season – which would equal Newcastle Dally M superstar Kalyn Ponga’s current salary as the biggest deal in NRL history.
The Luai-Cleary alliance has piloted the Panthers to four consecutive grand finals and three premierships, but Fletcher concedes the champions face a huge fight to keep the Samoan Test ace.
While Penrith’s two-year extension is worth around $850,000 a season, Luai could pocket an extra $1.5 million to $2m if he signed a more lucrative five-year deal with an NRL rival.
Fletcher revealed the true extent of Penrith’s desperate battle to keep Cleary’s scrumbase partner-in-crime.
Jarome Luai is a man in demand. Picture: Jonathan Ng


“I’ve heard Jarome has had offers of up to $1.4 million,” he said.
“Whether that’s right or wrong, I can’t tell you, but it’s a lot of money and if he chooses to take that sort of money, you can’t be crook on the bloke.
“He’s playing with us next year, but with the money he is being offered, it makes it difficult for us.
“The money that Jarome is being offered by the Tigers and some other clubs is ridiculous. We can’t compete with that.
“Look, if Jarome can get massive money like we’re hearing, well we’re happy for him and we wish him all the best.
Media-link
“Obviously our preference is for Jarome to stay. We’d love him to be here, but if he decides to go, it’s not a terrible thing for us.
“Our offer has been made and we can’t budge on that. He has to weigh up the balance between money and success.
“I can understand if Jarome wants to do the best in life and earn the money now that he can. If he gets all that extra money, he will have our blessing to go, but we’d love for Jarome to sign a new deal with us.
“It’s really up to him and his management to decide what’s best for him.
“Either way, whatever decision he makes, Jarome is a lucky boy.”
The Panthers are keen to keep halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai together – but not at any price. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The Panthers are keen to keep halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai together – but not at any price. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Meanwhile, Fletcher believes Cleary can play NRL until the age of 40 and declared he will be a Panther for life, claiming fans will “kill us” if the champion halfback is ever lost to the three-time premiers.
Cleary is signed until the end of 2027 but the Panthers are determined to take the talismanic playmaker off the open market for the long haul as they wage an uphill battle to keep his scrumbase cohort Luai.
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has met with the off-contract Luai and it is understood Cleary’s halves partner faces a massive financial sacrifice to remain at the foot of the mountains beyond next season.
Cleary is on $1.3 million a season and the potential loss of Luai would give Penrith the fiscal strength under the salary cap to ensure the NSW Origin maestro stays at the Panthers for 2030 and beyond.
“There’s no way we will lose Nathan Cleary,” Fletcher said.
“We will keep him here for life and hopefully the same goes for Ivan (Cleary, Panthers coach).
“Nathan and his father are here until 2027 and there’s plenty of time for us to extend them.
“We’d love to have Nathan here for even longer.

“To be honest, Nathan could play till he’s 40 he is that good.​

“With the way the modern game is with training methods and sports science, I believe he could get to 40.
“The fans would kill us if we let Nathan Cleary go – it won’t be happening on my watch.”
f**k me dead fletch stop talking out of your arse again ffs... 40 please, he'll run out of digits to put premiership rings on
 

Pomoz

Bench
Messages
2,989
That's not a form guide to go off, phillip gould started coaching in '88 won it straight away went to Penrith and made GFs in 90 and won in 91, rookie dont mean shit, Andrew webster just made top4 first year
Except, that this happens very rarely and Gould did it when the game was a lot simpler. Sports science was unheard of. One example does not make it true. Name another coach who did this? No coaching experience and then first grade success.

Andrew Webster is an experienced coach and has coached at all levels for a number of years. Benji has no coaching experience. None. Nada. Nil. Nowt. He has 1 year as an assistant in a team that got the wooden spoon.

It is a ludicrous decision to give him the job. Hasler, Flanagan, Toovey are three coaches that were available when he was appointed to learn under Sheens. I just don't get it. Maybe he will prove me wrong, but I think he is in the deep end waving for help and Pascoe has thrown him an anvil instead of a life jacket.
 

jrtiger

Juniors
Messages
30
If I were a West Tigers fan I really don’t know whether I would be excited by signing Jerome Luai or really concerned by the money and length of the deal.
hi Kilks, Wests fan here, lurk around LU a little but mainly on WT Forum.

for me, I'm delighted with the prospect of Luai at Wests Tigers. to you guys, he is worth $850k, but to us he is worth over seven figures, possibly up to $1.2m. he's a circuit breaker, will set high standards alongside Api, and I think that while he is excellent in your system, I feel as if he does have more to give as a dominant playmaker.

length is the tricky bit. 3 years and an option is probably ideal for us. our brightest prospect by a distance, Onitoni Large, will likely come into grade via the centres but will eventually command a place in the halves. 3 years gives Latu Fainu time next to Luai at the scrumbase and then Large would eventually make his way into the halves, which in my view is decent succession planning, something we have been poor at for many years.
 

murraymob

Coach
Messages
10,338
Well he has reportedly told Penrith he is going and like Crighton and kikau when the media is reporting so often it’s usually happens .interest come World club game do we play him given he would have had little training since the grand final . And it’s the one thing he hasn’t one .Let him win that one at the tigers
 

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,317
hi Kilks, Wests fan here, lurk around LU a little but mainly on WT Forum.

for me, I'm delighted with the prospect of Luai at Wests Tigers. to you guys, he is worth $850k, but to us he is worth over seven figures, possibly up to $1.2m. he's a circuit breaker, will set high standards alongside Api, and I think that while he is excellent in your system, I feel as if he does have more to give as a dominant playmaker.

length is the tricky bit. 3 years and an option is probably ideal for us. our brightest prospect by a distance, Onitoni Large, will likely come into grade via the centres but will eventually command a place in the halves. 3 years gives Latu Fainu time next to Luai at the scrumbase and then Large would eventually make his way into the halves, which in my view is decent succession planning, something we have been poor at for many years.

Fainu didn't want to wait until DCE retired for regular FG, there is no way he stays if Luai signs.

Nor can all of the expensive forwards, That is the flow on from paying such a figure. Particularly someone that isn't an organiser
 

jrtiger

Juniors
Messages
30
Fainu didn't want to wait until DCE retired for regular FG, there is no way he stays if Luai signs.

Nor can all of the expensive forwards, That is the flow on from paying such a figure. Particularly someone that isn't an organiser
Fainu was turfed out of Manly because of the Mosesification going on over the spit. nothing more nothing less. it'll be between him and Sullivan to partner Luai, and I can only see one winner there.

I think that compared to you blokes we're in a similar position cap-wise with forwards. we have paid good money for Koroisau, Bateman, Klemmer and Papali'i, but it's balanced out with guys like Utoikamanu (who admittedly is due an upgrade), Pole, Seyfarth, and Twal. you blokes save money on Kenny, Sorensen and Lindsay Smith, but you have paid a mint for JFH, Yeo, Martin and Leota.

Luai isn't an organiser but he won't have to be. I would expect us to play like 2020 Melbourne, with Api effectively running things from acting half and we play two five-eighths off him linked via a 13. it's worked in the past.
 

Iamback

Referee
Messages
20,317
Fainu was turfed out of Manly because of the Mosesification going on over the spit. nothing more nothing less. it'll be between him and Sullivan to partner Luai, and I can only see one winner there.

I think that compared to you blokes we're in a similar position cap-wise with forwards. we have paid good money for Koroisau, Bateman, Klemmer and Papali'i, but it's balanced out with guys like Utoikamanu (who admittedly is due an upgrade), Pole, Seyfarth, and Twal. you blokes save money on Kenny, Sorensen and Lindsay Smith, but you have paid a mint for JFH, Yeo, Martin and Leota.

Luai isn't an organiser but he won't have to be. I would expect us to play like 2020 Melbourne, with Api effectively running things from acting half and we play two five-eighths off him linked via a 13. it's worked in the past.

Forwards probably are close money wise.

We aren't paying $500k for a backup half ( Fainu)

And our hooker is on half of Api.

So the side will look different
 

The Realist

Juniors
Messages
1,887
Benji can teach Romey the art of throwing flick passes into the crowd and putting style over substance.
One of the most overrated players in my lifetime

Benji was a horrible half from about 2011 onwards. The amount of times I saw him throw cut out passes over the sideline, or throw forward passes in his later Tigers career was insane. One game in particular I remember at Penrith he got called for 2 forward passes in the space of 10 minutes as well as his customery pass to the crowd.

His kicking game was also not 1st grade standard. Nearly always going for the miracle play, many of which backfired spectacularly.

I have no idea which version of Benji Luai admired because since Luai was about 10 years old, Benji was trash.
 

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